Thank you — Quyanaa Quyanaa tailuci. – Thank you all for coming. Quyanaa is the Alutiiq word for thank you. People offer this common expression of gratitude throughout the Alutiiq nation. “Quyanaa,” you might say to your host at the end of a visit, or to a friend who gives you some smoked salmon. To […]
Barrel — Puuc’kaaq Puuc’kaat saRayami et’ut. – The barrels are in the shed. The Alutiiq word for barrel—puuc’kaaq—comes from the Russian word bochka, also meaning barrel. This link reflects the use of barrels for bulk storage on sailing ships in the early historic era. Russian traders imported grain, beads, and many other commodities to Alaska in […]
I Got It!, Bingo! — Pingua! Bingo-mi pingneq pingaktaaqa. – I like to win at bingo. “Pingua! I got it!” you might shout while reeling in a big salmon. However, this Alutiiq word is most commonly heard in Alutiiq language bingo games in classroom settings. Alutiiq students shout “pingua!” instead of “bingo!” when they fill […]
Barbed — Cukingq’rtuq Iqsak cukingq’rtuq. – The fishhook has a barb. Alutiiq hunters carved barbs into a variety of weapons. This included harpoon heads, arrowheads, leister prongs, and fish hooks made of strong, shock-absorbing bone, as well as sharp-edged lance heads ground from slate. These barbs were carefully designed to grip an animal’s flesh. Barb […]