Re: Paleo-eskimo were building boats in Greenland 4000 years ago.

From: Eric Stevens (eric.stevens_at_sum.co.nz)
Date: 07/27/04 

Date: Wed, 28 Jul 2004 11:46:51 +1200

On Tue, 27 Jul 2004 14:38:02 -0800, floyd@barrow.com (Floyd L.
Davidson) wrote:

>Eric Stevens <eric.stevens@sum.co.nz> wrote:
>
   --- snip ----
>
>>You may remember that all this started when I wrote
>>"... whoever was building boats in Greenland 4000 years ago, it
>>wasn't the inuit". Had he written 'paleo-eskimo' I would have had no
>>objection.
>
>Nice distortion, ...

It's not a distortion as should be obvious from the thread.

> ... but in fact I quoted an authoritative source

Haah - yes -
http://students.washington.edu/~ukc/library/052902-1notes.pdf - the
"University of Washington Kayak Club" - "Fundamentals of Sea Kayak
Design Seminar - Notes".

>... on
>kayaqs, and it was *their* use of the language that you have the
>audacity to question!

>There is no doubt about what they meant,
>and saying it is wrong because you don't understand common word
>usage is just being obnoxious and argumentative on your part.

That document only uses the word 'inuit' three times, all on the first
page. Here is the relevant text:

Begin quote
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

1. No one knows the precise origin of kayaks, but has existed for
centuries among the Inuit people of Greenland, from before the time
the first Europeans came (1600-1700s). Some archaeological evidence
indicating kayaks are 4,000 years old.
2. Kayaking is still an important part of Greenland’s culture,
although it was in danger of vanishing in the early 20th century after
the introduction of power boats. Kayaking now experiencing a
renaissance in Greenland.
3. West Greenland kayaks probably closest to the modern design.
4. Greenland paddlers are still among the greatest in the world. Most
of the roll, rescue, and paddle techniques we use today come from the
Inuit.
5. Purpose of kayaking for Inuit: Primary method of subsistence
hunting of caribou, seals, sea otters, and whales. Very dangerous.
Data in the late 1800s indicated in south Greenland, about 24 males
died each year during kayak hunting out of a total population of 5600.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
End quote

There is NOTHING in that document to justify you citing it as an
authority for what you claim.

>(Maybe I've misnamed something? Should it actually be correctly
>called, The Seppo/Eric Word Weasel Game!)
>
>If you had understood the terminology, you would have had no
>objection. They could have said either Paleo-Inuit or
>Paleo-Eskimo and been just as correct.

Agreed.

>Which is also to say
>that using either the term Eskimo or the term Inuit is equally
>valid usage.

Then why use the prefix 'paleo' if the distinction is not necessary?

>
>The common usage of those terms in that sense has been
>demonstrated multiple times and there is no point in your
>continued intentionally ignorant responses trying to deny
>that it was correct the first time.

Eric Stevens

Relevant Pages