Our Canoeing Heritage
Canoeing Cultures
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The canoe is the greatest gift from Aboriginal
cultures to all those who came after.
The canoe of the Aboriginal Peoples is
perhaps the ultimate expression of
elegance and function in the world of
watercraft. All its parts come from nature,
and when it is retired, it returns to nature.
Except for the tribes of the Plains, the
canoe was vital to all Aboriginal cultures of
Canada, each tribe being defined by the
distinct shape of its canoe or kayak. It was
not only the principal means of
transportation, but was also critical to
almost every facet of life; canoe and kayak
builders were revered in their societies.
Through the canoe and kayak, the
centrality of Aboriginal Peoples to
Canadian history can be honoured. The
symbol of the canoe can do much to bring
Aboriginal Peoples back to the centre of
Canadian culture, rather than leaving
them on the margins, where they all too
often reside.
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