The Last Baidarka of Prince William Sound

An interview with traditional Alutiiq kayak builder Mitch Poling, originally released Nov 2013.

Traditional Alutiiq kayak builder Mitch Poling spent his childhood in Chenega, Alaska, a small village where the traditional seal-skin covered kayak (known by the Russian term "baidarka") was still being used for hunting and travel. The art of skin-on-frame kayak construction in Alaska was almost completely lost, as new technology was introduced and fishermen turned to using outboard motors and plywood boats. In 1964, a tsunami wiped out the village of Chenega and destroyed the remaining baidarkas. Fortunately, one kayak was left intact, safely stored in a museum in Cordova. Using this remaining specimen, Mitch was able to revive the practice of traditional skin-on-frame kayak construction in Prince William Sound.

Mitch had an amazing amount of information to share in this interview, and generously took time off his busy schedule preparing for his latest trip to Alaska to show us around his home and workshop in Port Townsend, Washington. For those who are interested, the full transcript will be made available on my blog, dashpointpirate.com. It will contain a lot more technical information on kayak construction than is presented in the video that traditional skin-on-frame kayak builders might appreciate.

CREDITS

Mitch Poling
Interviewer: Richard Lovering
Art Direction: Katya Palladina
Animation: Andrew Elizaga
Videography and editing by Andrew Elizaga

Music, Licensed for use from Beatpick.com:
"Mysterious" by Alex Plowright
"Just a Thought" by Tired Tape Machine
"Gliding" by Alex Plowright

Still Images courtesy of Mitch Poling, the John M. Poling Trust, and The Alaska State Library Digital Archive.

COPYRIGHT©2013 Andrew Elizaga