Jumper — Aq’alaq Aq’alartut iluani. – There are jumpers inside (the seine). Jumping salmon are a conspicuous sign of summer around Kodiak. Scan the surface of the ocean in June and you will see pink salmon hurling themselves out of the water as they head for their spawning grounds. When this happens, you may hear […]
Cave — Legtaq, Qaiqunaq (old form) Legtaq tamlertuq. – The cave is dark. Caves are natural shelters that attract both people and animals. Archaeological data from Prince William Sound illustrate that the prehistoric Alutiiq people camped in caves. Although similar settlements are poorly known from the Kodiak region, oral histories and historical accounts indicate that […]
Hare, Rabbit — Kuskaanaq Kuskaanaq ekllinartuq. – The hare looks delicious. The varying hare or snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) occurs widely throughout North America. This small furbearer is well known for its seasonally changing fur color. In winter, the snowshoe hare has a pure white coat and black-tipped ears, which provides camouflage in a snowy […]
Lent — Pustaaq In Alutiiq communities, the Lenten season covers the forty days preceding Orthodox Easter. The two or three weeks before Lent are often a time of celebration, in preparation for the fasting and quiet lifestyle expected in the days leading up to Easter. Before Lent, Alutiiq people eat lots of good food, hold […]