Word of the Week Lesson Kiimaq : Whale blubber Akgua’aq kiimartullriakut. : We ate whale blubber yesterday. (Click sentence to hear Alutiiq words spoken) Blubber, the thick layer of fat that lies between a whale’s skin and its muscles, has important biological functions. Like all mammals, whales must maintain a warm body temperature. While swimming […]
Word of the Week Lesson 15:45 KRaasnaaq : Godparent KRaasnaat ag’inartut. : Godparents should be respected. (Click sentence to hear Alutiiq words spoken) Russian colonists introduced godparenting, a relationship between adults and children that has become second in importance only to parent-child bonds in Alutiiqcommunities. KRaasnaaq comes from a Russian word meaning “godparent.” Some Alutiiq […]
Word of the Week Lesson 15:44 Keneryaq : Bat (animal) Aliktaanka keneryat. : The bats scare me. (Click sentence to hear Alutiiq words spoken) Bats are not widespread in Alaska. There are just five species of these small flying mammals found mostly in forested areas of southeast and south central Alaska, where trees provide good […]