Cross-Alutiiq Word of the Week-April 16th
KRistaaq – Cross Suu’ut ilait KRistaartumataartut. – Some people wear a cross. Introduced to Kodiak by nineteenth-century Russian Orthodox clergy, the Christian cross is a symbol that appears widely in…
Face-Alutiiq Word of the Week-April 9th
Giinaq – Face Giinan tang’raqa! – I see your face! The human face is the most frequently portrayed image on Alutiiq masks. Although many masks have animal elements–a beak shaped…
Awareness-Alutiiq Word of the Week-April 2nd
LLANGARLLUNI – TO GAIN AWARENESS CARLIAQA LLANGLLARNGAUQ. – MY CHILD IS AWARE. Why do toddlers like to say, “No!”? The answer lies in a baby’s growing brain. In the transitions…
Television-Alutiiq Word of the Week-March 19th
Ulutegwik – Television Ulutegwik ikirsgu. – Turn the television on. Television began reaching rural Alaska communities in the1970s, as communication systems evolved following World War II. Alutiiq villages began to…
Blue Mussel-Alutiiq Word of the Week-March 12th
Qapilaq – Blue Mussel. Qapilat piturnirtaartut. – Blue mussels are always tasty. Blue mussels (Mylitus edulis) are one of the most common intertidal invertebrates in the Kodiak Archipelago. These purple-shelled…
Razor Clam-Alutiiq Word of the Week-March 5th
Cingtaataq – Razor Clam Cingtaatarsurlita! – Let’s gather razor clams! Pacific razor clams (Siliqua patula) can be found in sandy beaches from California to the Aleutian Islands. Alaska is home…
Baleen-Alutiiq Word of the Week-February 26th
Kagit’ruaq – Baleen Inartat kag’it’ruamek pilitaallriit. – They used to make baskets out of baleen. What do hooves, horns, hair, claws, finger nails, feathers, scales, beaks, and baleen have in…
Remains of Chirikof Island Alutiiq People Returned
More than half a century after they were taken from Chirikof Island, human remains representing at least 109 Alutiiq people will return to the Kodiak region. On Thursday, February 23,…
