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 […]
Qaugyaq – Sand Asut qaugyanek canamataallriit. – They used to make pots out of sand. Sand is a fine, granular material that forms as rocks break down into small particles. This slow process, caused by erosion and weathering, can take thousands of years. The color of sand deposits reflects the stone from which they originate. […]
Filipiinaq – Filipino Filipiinat taitaallriit kiagmi pekcaturluteng kaanaRimen. – The Filipino people used to come in the summer to work in the canneries. People of Filipino heritage have been part of Alaska history for over two hundred and thirty years. The first record of a Filipino person in Alaska is from 1788, when a man […]
Kumitgarpak – Shrimp Kumitgarpat piturnirtaartut. – Shrimp are tasty. There are five species of shrimp in Gulf of Alaska waters—including coonstripe, sidestripe, humpy, northern, and spot varieties. The Alaska spot prawn (Pandalus platyceros) is the largest and a popular addition to dinner tables. These tasty invertebrates are found from northern British Columbia to the eastern […]