Pingayun – Three Pingayunek carliangq’rtua. – I have three children. (Click sentence to hear Alutiiq words spoken) Counting is a skill that children around the world learn at a very young age, and although quantifying objects comes naturally to humans, the world’s societies count in many different ways. Counting systems reflect the mathematical concepts of […]
Angqiarlluni – Injury; Hurt (suddenly) Paluqakamta angqiartaartukut. – When we fall down we injure ourselves. (Click sentence to hear Alutiiq words spoken.) In classical Alutiiq society, two types of healthcare providers treated the sick and injured: healers trained in the arts of acupressure, bleeding, midwifery, and the use of medicinal herbs; and shamans who sought […]
Auk – Blood Ilait auk aliktaarait. – Some people are scared of blood. (Click sentence to hear Alutiiq words spoken.) In English, the word blood has several meanings. It can refer to the liquid that circulates oxygen and nutrients through an animal’s body, or it can denote a person’s family background— their ancestry. In the […]
Kungkiq; Kankiiq – Ice Skate Cuumi kungkirtaallianga unuk nangpiarluku iraluwakan. – Before, I used to ice skate all night sometimes when the moon was out. (Click sentence to hear Alutiiq words spoken) December, many of Kodiak’s small ponds are often frozen over, strong enough to support ice skaters. Alutiiq Elders recall the joy of skating. […]