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• Alaska Native Artist
• Early 1900s
• Wood and rawhide
• Gift of Grace Nicholson, 1935.219

Indigenous peoples who inhabited Northern Canada, Greenland, Alaska, and Siberia developed the first kayaks approximately 4,000 years ago. In the Inuit language, the word “kayak” means “Hunter's Boat,” reflecting its primary use for hunting waterfowl, seals, walrus and even whales. These long, slender boats were originally crafted from whalebone or driftwood frames, which were then wrapped in sealskin and layered with whale fat for waterproofing. While kayaks were typically designed to hold one person, models capable of carrying two or more individuals gradually gained popularity.