"I believe group paddlers on sea or river should act like solo paddlers who happen to be together. They don't need each other, but they can offer even more rings of protection when available." - greyak as cited by njkayaker
Yup!
Ideally each paddler should be self-suficient as far as skills/safety. Each bringing the best kit (skills and safety gear)is safest for each and all paddlers in a pod.
e.g. A successful capsize self-rescue lessens the danger to other paddlers as well as myself. The first aid kit, spare paddle, cag, and drybag of fleece and polypro I pack are just as likely to aid another paddler as myself.
Alaskan and East Canadian Aleuts rolled Some other groups did not, like the Central Canadian groups. Some used double bladed to roll, some used single.
Simple geography goes a long way toward explaining which groups rolled. basically, it was the coastal/open water groups.
There are many references to Aleuts rolling. Here’s one:
“They were designers and craftsmen of sea vessels called “baidarkas” which are well known for excellent maneuverability over the ocean no matter what weather conditions prevailed. The one to three man vessels would travel for long periods at sea before returning to the shore; males were trained at a very early age to sit for many days with their legs straight out before them in the enclosure of the baidarka. Historically, it is recorded that if the men were appropriately outfitted with “kamleikas” (waterproof garments) in a properly constructed baidarka, they could roll completely over in the sea and become upright again without being tossed from the baidarka.”