Ugwik – Sea mammal haul out rock Wiinaq ugwigmi et’uq. – The sea lion is on the haul-out rock. The literal translation of the Alutiiq word ugwik is ‘a place to climb on top of.’ Speakers use this term to refer to sea mammal rocks, spots where seals and sea lions rest along the shore. This […]
Monday afternoon, the Sun’aq Tribe of Kodiak laid to rest the remains of Alutiiq ancestors. As the sun shone over the city cemetery, community members gathered for a service commemorating the return of four people. Sun’aq Tribe staff member Randy Boskofsky made a large wooden cross to mark the grave and held it during a […]
Sitkalidak Island — Salliitaq, Saliitaq Agyunitua Saliitamen Ernerpak. – I Do Not Want to Go to Sitkalidak Island Today. Sitkalidak is the third largest island in the Kodiak region. Twenty-three miles long, this rugged, mountainous landform lies off the eastern coast of Kodiak Island. Sitkalidak covers 116 square miles with peaks up to 2200 feet […]
Qugaarkunani—To not give up, to persevere Taugna suk qugaartenilnguq.—The person didn’t give up. Perseverance is a necessary quality for anyone living a subsistence lifestyle. Long journeys, arduous tasks, and challenging weather require physical and mental strength. Alutiiq harvesters recall long days splitting thousands of fish, packing food across mountains, boat trips in heavy seas, and […]