3 hatch, in Aleut an ulluxtaq, wood frame, rawhide cover. 8 spear rests lashed to rawhide on deck, 2 bone pieces in each hatch support manhole rim. Fixtures include: 3 slated mats of wood; 2 spear throwers, ivory; 3 paddles, single blade, crossbar handle, geometric design in red paint; 2 paddles, single blade, graphite coated blade; 1 boat hook; 5 harpoons with ivory barbed points; 2 harpoons with metal tips; 2 spears with flint chip point lashed to wood shaft with sinew.
Donor:
Phoebe Apperson Hearst
Collection place:
Kodiak Island, Kodiak Island Borough, Alaska
Verbatim coll. place:
Kodiak district; Kodiak Island
Culture or time period:
Alaskan Eskimo and Alutiiq
Collector:
Charles L. Hall
Collection date:
ca. 1895
Materials:
Graphite (mineral)
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Kayaks and Models (concepts)
Function:
1.4 Transportation
Accession date:
August 12, 1902
Context of use:
Koniag (qanaĝin, literally the fishermen) kayaks that 2-13602a-b, 2-6438, and 2-2091 model are similar to Aleut kayaks, noted for being able to weather rough waters but are more broad-beamed. Instead of a hole or hook, the bow has a more peculiar shape that turns up more with a very thin opening, the stern is the same flat and square shape found on all of the other kayaks. Three hole kayaks were built on Kodiak Island as a result of Russian contact as early as 1805, the missionary would usually sit in the middle hole and was accompanied by a Native Alaskan paddler on each side. Koniag people did their whaling with kayaks as well as hunting other sea animals. Another distinctly Koniag practice with kayaks was to put the frame over a hunter who died while at sea, if their remains were able to be brought back to shore. Koniag kayaking also held the distinction of using single-sided paddles and kneeling in the hatch on a bed of grass.
Department:
Native US and Canada (except California)
Dimensions:
length 92 centimeters
Comment:
References: cf. Adney & Chapelle, fig. 181, p. 198. for Kodiak I. kayaks. cf. Zimmerly, David W. "Qajaq: Kayaks of Siberia and Alaska." (1986). Sturtevant, William C. Handbook of North American Indians. Edited by Warren L. D’Azevedo, David Damas, June Helm, Robert F. Heizer, Alfonso Ortiz, Wilcomb E. Washburn, Wayne Suttles, Ives Goddard, Deward E. Walker, Raymond J. DeMallie, Raymond D. Fogelson, Douglas H. Ubelaker, and Garrick A. Bailey. Vol. 5. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution, 1984.