Nov 15, 2024

Celebrating the Kayak

This Native American Heritage Month Doodle celebrates the kayak, a narrow watercraft originally created by Arctic tribes 5,000 years ago.

Illustration of letter G in a tan circle and black waves in the bottom

About the Doodle

About Celebrating the Kayak

This Native American History Month Doodle, illustrated by Inuit Nunangat guest artist Natashia Allakariallak, celebrates the kayak! These small and narrow watercraft were created thousands of years ago for hunting, fishing, and transportation. Kayaking has since evolved into a widely popular recreational activity and competitive sport.

Native American communities in arctic regions are to thank for these paddle-powered boats. Kayaks were originally invented by Northern tribes including Inuit, Aleut, Inupiat, and Yup’ik and made with animal skins, bones, and driftwood to help traverse cold waters. These boats offered hunters the stealth and mobility to successfully catch fish, seals, whales, and more in even the most treacherous waters.

It’s only fitting that the word kayak means “hunter’s boat” in Inuit. Qajaq, the etymological form of the word, stems from one of the 14 dialects of the Inuit-Yupik-Unangan family of languages. Each qajaq was customized and hand-built by the hunter to account for their own size and weight, and thought of as an extension of the self rather than just a tool.

Kayaking has since evolved into a sport and recreational hobby that welcomes all who enjoy time out on the water. From leisurely rides across still lakes to competitions over treacherous white waters, kayaking is now worldwide. We have the Northern tribes to thank for this sporting advancement.

Making the Doodle

About the Guest Artist

Photograph of Inuit woman wearing a striped sweater and gold earrings and straight black hair with two front pieces braided.

This Doodle was illustrated by Inuit Nunangat guest artist, Natashia Allakariallak. Below, she shares her thoughts behind the making of this Doodle:

Q&A

1/4

Q: Why was this topic meaningful to you personally?

A. This topic is meaningful to me because it highlights the excellence of Inuit culture. The qajaq, which has been created by Inuit, has now been adopted and used by the entire world. It is an item from our culture that has allowed us to thrive for thousands of years and is still used today.

2/4

Q: What were your first thoughts when you were approached about the project?

A. I feel honoured to have been invited to create an art piece in collaboration with Google. I feel like the recognition and inclusion of Indigenous artists in all levels is becoming more and more common and these partnerships make for wonderful opportunities for the world to learn more about who we are. I am grateful Google approached me to collaborate for this project.

3/4

Q: Did you draw inspiration from anything in particular for this Doodle?

A. I took the time to explore and observe visuals of original and contemporary photos of Inuit using the qajaq. The waves in which the person in the qajaq is navigating depicts the effort and skill it takes to navigate Arctic waters.

4/4

Q: What message do you hope people take away from your Doodle?

A. It is important that people know where the qajaq originates from. I would like for people to honour the original design(s) and give credit where it is due.

Inuit are an incredibly resourceful people and have adapted to many waves of colonial pressures, yet, we continue to strive for success and we celebrate the beauty of our culture.

Where this Doodle appeared

The Doodle Celebrating the Kayak launched Nov 15, 2024

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