Shark — Arlluguaq Arlluguaq culurngauq. – The shark is beached. Like whales or sea lions, sharks are large predators found throughout the Gulf of Alaska. Biologists recognize ten varieties of sharks in gulf waters, but others stray into the area from warmer climates. Alaskan species include the formidable blue and great white shark. However, the […]
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 […]
Grasses — Weg’et Weg’et kiagmi anglitaartut. – The grass grows tall in the summertime. More than sixty-five varieties of grasses grow in the Kodiak Archipelago, as well as many types of sedges and rushes. The most widely harvested grass is beach ryegrass (Elymus arenarius), a plant common across the northern hemisphere. This tall, sturdy grass […]
Chignik — Cirniq Cirnimen aglita. – Let’s go to Chignik. The salmon-rich Chignik region of the southern Alaska Peninsula is home to three Alutiiq communities, each named for the body of water it overlooks: Chignik Bay, Chignik Lagoon, and Chignik Lake. Foot trails link these small villages, winding through a lush, rolling, treeless landscape that […]