Married couple — Tamallkuk Guangkunuk tamallkuk. – We are a married couple. Today, many people choose not to marry, or to marry later in life. In the last forty years, the average age at marriage in the United States has increased significantly due to changing gender roles, social norms, and economic factors. In classical Alutiiq […]
Christmas — ARausistuaq (N), Rausistuaq (N), ARusistuaq (S) Guangkuta ARusistuartaartukut January-mi. – We always celebrate Christmas in January. Many of Kodiak’s Alutiiq families celebrate Christmas twice each year: American Christmas on December 25 and Russian Orthodox Christmas on January 7. Although both events commemorate the birth of Christ, they are quite different. American Christmas features […]
Snow — Qaniq (falling), Aniuq (on ground) Qaninguq. – It is snowing Although the Kodiak Archipelago does not receive large quantities of snow, snow cover is present between December and March and remains in the region’s high interior mountains throughout the year. For Alutiiq people, frozen landscapes presented both opportunities and challenges. Winter in the […]
Talisman — Nakernaq Carliarluki nakernaten. Nakciquten. – Take care of your talisman. You will be lucky. A rabbit’s foot, a four-leaf clover, a horseshoe–these are all widely recognized symbols of luck in modern American life. They are talismans, objects believed to provide good fortune or personal protection. People in all cultures use talismans, often carrying […]