News and Gear

Expert paddler, Doug Lloyd demonstrated relative merits of back deck rigging systems for self rescue procedure at last year's Vancouver Island Paddlefest. Doug will be speaking at the Kayak 2000 Conference organized in conjunction with the Paddlefest this year, along with Andree Hurley, Joseph Agnew, Dave Blacoe and others. For more information on the Paddlefest, contact Melanie at 250-245-5092. www.paddlefest.bc.ca

This year brings a new marketing alliance between Ecosummer Expeditions and Kanata Adventure Specialists, adventure travel industry veterans since 1984. Their combined efforts allow Ecosummer to introduce new products and destinations: trekking and canoeing trips in BC, the Yukon and overseas. Other programs include: Llama trekking in Kakwa Provincial Park, paddling in the Broken Islands, horse packtrips, hiking the West Coast Trail, hut to hut skiing, snowshoeing and dogsledding. 1 800 465-8884.

WaveLength's popular website was redesigned this winter with the help of our new webmaster, Ted Leather http://members.home.net/clayrose , and now it's better than ever. Check out our lists of "Logo Links" for retailers, manufacturers, guides and accommodations, read the latest issue or cruise through our extensive archives of back issues. In the month of February alone, the site logged 140,000 hits!

For this issue we've had the help of Marika Wilson shown here under our Moss Tents Parawing tarp. For information on the Parawing, contact 800-550-8368 www.mosstents.com

Kayak campers now have a great new way of experiencing the great outdoors, sleeping in an easy to pitch, waterproof, enclosed hammock! We tried it out and it's great. Call Aqua Quest at 604-970-2890 ww.venturequest.com

The Primex kayak cart can be used in many innovative ways, including this technique for helping you load your kayak on your vehicle! You can win a kayak cart by subscribingto WaveLength before June 1st. For more information on many intriguing Primex products, visit their site at www.deluge.com

Dear Editor

"Gila'kas'la. Please accept my congratulations on a well researched edition. As a past Rediscovery guide and member of the Comox Band's "I'Hos" canoe crew for the 1994 Tribal Visions Journey, I am often dubious when reading about First Nations culture as written by non-natives. This well written issue should dispel many myths and give the general public another view and sense of respect for land when they are out "pulling" in their watercraft. I especially enjoyed Dan Lewis' article with his recognition of another vision of the land we use. In reference to the "Ten Rules of the Canoe", my records show that these were developed by David Forlines (Quiluete) for the 1989 Paddle to Seattle. Hai-o!" Barbara Dobree (alias "Grasshopper") Komoux Valley Paddlers Club, Merville, BC

Editor's Note: On the cover of our First Nations issue, Bill Henderson is standing at the bow of the canoe, with paddlers Bob Gordon and Doreen Drake visible behind.

Rajé Harwood, who helped us with the First Nations issue, would like readers to know that native artist Richard Hunt, older brother of Stan Hunt (featured in our last issue), will be featured at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria until mid-August. Rajé also notes that Norman Brotchie, a Tsaxis-Kwagiulth artist who crafts silver and gold jewellery, can be reached at PO Box 178, Port Hardy, BC V0N 2P0. Ph: 250-949-5904.

She reminds us that the Just Art Gallery in Port McNeill on northern Vancouver Island holds an impressive array First Nations art, including over 30 original paintings, as well as bent and kerfed boxes, hand-turned bowls, totem poles, paddles and rattles, Kwakiutl masks (some with copper and abalone inlay and silver work), hand-painted drums, hand-sculpted copper work, ivory carvings and jewellery makers.

Just Art features the works of well-known Kwakiutl artists Henry Speck Jr., Trevor Hunt, Stan Hunt, Gert Robinson, and Brian Wadhams, among others. Several of these artists will be working in residence at the gallery on Fridays and Saturdays throughout July and August, 2000.

Another gallery of note is the Coghlan Gallery, which has the work of some of these same artists. Rajé hopes to provide more information on First Nations artists, including Calvin Hunt and Mervin Child, in issues ahead