Black Women Who Kayak was created by Tanya Walker out of a personal need – the need to find other women and girls of colour to kayak with. More than this, the group aims to dismantle stereotypes about African American women in places where they are rarely seen, break down barriers, and offer women the opportunity to hold space and feel welcomed. 

We were lucky to grab some time with Tanya to find out more, and talk kayaking, water safety education, inclusivity and more!

Hi Tanya, thank you for joining us! Could you briefly tell us who you are, your location, and how long you’ve been kayaking?

Hello, I’m Tanya Walker. I’m the founder and creator of Black Women Who Kayak+, LLC. I’m a native in Austin Texas and I’ve been kayaking for over 10 years.

When did you get the idea to start the Black Women Who Kayak group, what was the light bulb moment? How did it come to you?

Black Women Who Kayak+, LLC wasn’t supposed to be a business. Initially, I wanted to find some friends who’d kayak with me. Because, I had very few friends who loved doing what I like doing. Such as kayaking, hiking, caving, etc. My ex was the one who mentioned for me to create a FaceBook group to see who’d come. I named the group at first, Black Women Who Kayak. Only one lady would show up to the events that I created and I was about to close the group down. Because, I mentioned to the lady that now, all I had to do was call you to meet up. That lady was the one who told me not to shut it down, and I’m very happy that I didn’t. You see, I was able to turn my passion into my purpose. After seeing any water events, it wasn’t catching on!

The next event that I created was spelunking (potholing, or caving). Much to my surprise, every single lady that RSVP’d showed up to the Whirlpool Caves. None of us knew each other or knew what we were getting ourselves into. We were given a crash course on how to belly crawl and was told we’d be descending 30+ feet below ground. For three hours, all 9 of us army crawled, in and out of canals, encouraging one another when one of us got stuck. We were all clean before, and after our event the only thing you could see was the white in our eyes and teeth. It was one of the most amazing experiences for BWWK+. Once we successfully made it out, the birth of the + in Black Women Who Kayak was born. It was my ah-ha moment when I realized that I needed to use this platform for more than my own gain, that I could be a part of a much bigger purpose – and that was placing black and brown people in spaces that you rarely saw them in.

“One of the black and brown generation’s biggest barriers is the fear of big bodies of water or not knowing how to swim, period.”

How has swimming been part of your activities? Do many women take part in this part?

This has been one of many barriers that I had to face and find a solution too. One of the black and brown generation’s biggest barriers is the fear of big bodies of water or not knowing how to swim, period. I don’t know what that’s like, but I knew the only way to face this barrier is to partner with someone who can assist me with getting ladies and their families learning to swim. We partnered with British School in 2021. A part of our partnership with the British Swim School is offering a tremendous discount of 20 dollars plus tax for 45 mins of swimming lessons for the Black Women Who Kayak+ members and their kids.

Black and brown people are statistically the highest in accidental drownings and kids are at the highest. Our goal is if we can save just one person from drowning, everyone is winning. I was once asked what keeps me going with BWWK+, and I responded, the look on a member’s face that’s my age and she’s learning how to swim or float for the very first time. We now have over 20 members and counting in the Austin area that has taken advantage of this opportunity.

What do you hope women get from your kayaking experiences in terms of soft skills?

All of our events are designed to educate, empower, and inspire our members. My hope is that kayaking will give them a sense of peace of mind. In some ways, it can be viewed as meditation. They also benefit from an increase in focus and mood. This will be beneficial not only on the water, but in life as well. It’s nice when we can take off our hats and commune with Mother Earth when we wear a lot of them.

Could you give us your 3 top tips for starting kayaking?

Yesss… this is a hot topic in our group!

1. Research different types of kayaks before you buy to make sure you purchase the right size for your weight and height.

2. Research different types of PFD (personal floation device), because wearing it wrong or not the right size can be dangerous.

3. Research and plan your kayaking trip before you go out. Additionally make sure someone knows where you’re going to be kayaking if you’re kayaking alone.

What words of motivation would you say to any women out there who are afraid to start?

The thought of stepping outside your comfort zone can be intimidating and frightening at times. In particular, if you are the only person of color in that space. Our mission at Black Women Who Kayak+, LLC is to inspire you to join other Queens who look like you and take that first step. The good news is that you don’t have to do it alone. Sis, come on and join us! We’re waiting for you.

Love kayaking? Check out our other kayaking articles and interviews here!