Do you know that the Alaskan Inuit people were the first to build and use kayaks at least 4,000 years ago? Historically, canoes and kayaks were built for hunting, fishing, transportation, trade, warfare, gifts and ceremonies and have always represented some of Canada's most important vessels. All because northern North America is a unique but even challenging land of lakes, rivers and coasts and the canoes were since the beginning a resourceful response to this environment.