About Northern Lights Qajaq Society
Northern Lights Qajaq Society is the product of a shared obsession. We're northern paddlers who have fallen for the subtlety and brilliance of Greenland-style paddling techniques and equipment. Most of us have splashed at the water for hour upon hour and year after year as we've attempted to master some portion of the repertoire of Greenland rolls. Others have carved traditional paddles, built Greenland-style boats, or made tuiliks (the combination paddling garment and sprayskirt). Some of us have made harpoons and, to the befuddlement of onlookers, practiced chucking them at imaginary seals.
Five years ago, our mutual interest got us talking about the idea of a casual get-together, where we could yap about our pursuit without enduring the bemusement of the uninterested. This simple idea was seized on and vastly elaborated by Jo Hamilton, who became the mother and guiding light of the first Traditional Gatherings. Jo steered the Gathering to its original home at a quiet resort near Akeley, MN. She organized piles of food into delicious meals. And she created a welcoming atmosphere that helped make the first Gatherings such a huge success. Her death in 2008 left a tough-to-fill hole in the Gathering, in the Minnesota paddling world and in the broader community.
We're reorganizing the Gathering this year to meet some changing desires. As a tip-of-the-hat to a tougher economic climate, we've made cuts to keep costs low. We've moved the Gathering to Kathio State Park, where we've reserved a group camp site to minimize the cost of accommodations. Kathio is located on Lake Mille Lacs, just 90 miles from the Twin Cities — considerably closer than our former Akeley location. We've also decided this year not to provide meals for participants. It's a way, again, to keep costs low. But also it's an acknowledgement that the work of providing meals was creating too much of a burden on the volunteers who handled the job. This year, folks, you can eat as simply or as extravagantly as you wish, but you'll have to manage the cooking yourself.
As usual, we'll offer teaching by visiting and local mentors. Our visitors this year include Helen Wilson and Will Bigelow. You can learn much more about Helen at her website, www.greenlandorbust.org. Will Bigelow is a member in good standing of the Walden (MA) Pond Scum, and a recidivist mentor widely admired for his instruction at past Gatherings. There are numerous local paddlers who will also help to teach basic and advanced Greenland moves.
At this year's Gathering you can expect to experience what is most likely Minnesota's only harpoon contest. Or, in any case, Minnesota's only harpoon contest that involves the slaying of large, inflatable plastic sea creatures. We're planning a silent auction. Deep thoughts will be thunk around a campfire. If you're crazy about traditional paddling, consider yourself invited.
