Subject: Re: [baidarka] "Aleut Story" on PBS
From: William Nettles (netttles@adelphia.net)
Date: Fri Mar 03 2006 - 16:42:49 EST
If you can't find the DVD or program: Read the book: When the Wind Was
a River. Dean Kohlhoff
Having read about this subject the WWII disruption was more negative
then it needed to be. It wouldn't have taken very much added effort to
accomplish the same goals with less harm. We were after all fighting to
preserve our free and varied way of life weren't we?
After the war the government consolidated different island groups on
islands closer to Unalaska to make it easier on the government to
manage the Aleuts. There was nothing positive in it for the Aleuts. It
parallels similar harm done by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Every western or foreign intrusion (the Japanese invaded and imprisoned
Aleuts as well) in the Aleutians hurt Aleut culture--either
intentionally like the Russian Fur Traders or with the best of
intentions like the Russian Orthodox Church or through simple
bureaucratic neglect like the war removal.
It is really heartening to see the Aleuts returning to baidarka
building. The 'Inuit kayak' in all its forms is the Parthenon of boats
in human culture. Ancient yet timeless, magnificent, the definition of
elegant design. Sure the powerboat and the outboard are here to stay,
but there is nothing like a kayak.
Using grass to insulate army boots, winter garments and survival, etc
shows these cultures still have much to teach us. I'm still waiting to
see some anthropologist confirm my conjecture that the gut underwear of
the Inuit (maybe only the Greenland Inuit) is the first GoreTex.
Intestine is like Goretex a semipermeable membrane.
Will
On Mar 3, 2006, at 8:12 AM, Don McCumber wrote:
> Unfortunately, I am in an area where the local PBS station did not run
> the Aleut Story. Did anyone either record the show, or get
> information on where to buy a tape or DVD? --
> Baidarka Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be
> reproduced outside Baidarka or Baidarka archives without author's
> permission
> Submissions: baidarka@paddlewise.net
> Subscriptions: baidarka-request@paddlewise.net
> Searchable archive: http://rtpnet.org/robroy/baidarka
>
>
William Nettles Photography
Art Docmentary Photography
nettlesphoto@adelphia.net
213-250-3099
213-595-0865 (cell)
8x10, 4x5, 35mm & Digital
Image Editing, Special Effects & Cataloging
-- Baidarka Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside Baidarka or Baidarka archives without author's permission Submissions: baidarka@paddlewise.net Subscriptions: baidarka-request@paddlewise.net Searchable archive: http://rtpnet.org/robroy/baidarka
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b27 : Sat Apr 01 2006 - 01:00:03 EST