Keeping the Tradition Alive: Joanne Barta and the Rebirth of SSTIKS

Send us Fan MailIn this special guest episode of The Dubcast with Dubside, Dubside sits down with longtime SSTIKS organizer and mentor Joanne Barta. Recorded in May 2025 at the TRAQS gathering in Florida, the conversation traces Joanne’s journey from her first awe-filled paddle in Southeast Alaska to becoming a central figure in the South Sound Traditional Inuit Kayak Symposium (SSTIKS) and Qajaq USA events.Joanne shares how she discovered Greenland paddles, built her own boats, and grew into a respected instructor—especially known for her work teaching kids to roll. She and Dubside talk about what made SSTIKS unique: its deep commitment to families, a full kids’ program with appropriately sized skin-on-frame kayaks and paddles, and a collaborative organizing culture that kept costs low and community at the center.They also discuss the challenges of keeping an event alive through COVID, and then sparking a rebirth of SSTIKS in 2025 at Vista Park in Skamokawa, Washington. Along the way, Joanne recalls memorable international adventures, including an early traditional kayaking event in Argentina with improvised kayak builds, unfamiliar local customs, and a mayor-backed exemption just to get kayaks home on car roofs.It’s a 40-minute tour through the history and future of SSTIKS—and a tribute to the community that keeps traditional kayaking thriving.LINKS:SSTIKS 2025