Angqiarlluni – Injury; Hurt (suddenly) Paluqakamta angqiartaartukut. – When we fall down we injure ourselves. (Click sentence to hear Alutiiq words spoken.) In classical Alutiiq society, two types of healthcare providers treated the sick and injured: healers trained in the arts of acupressure, bleeding, midwifery, and the use of medicinal herbs; and shamans who sought […]
Auk – Blood Ilait auk aliktaarait. – Some people are scared of blood. (Click sentence to hear Alutiiq words spoken.) In English, the word blood has several meanings. It can refer to the liquid that circulates oxygen and nutrients through an animal’s body, or it can denote a person’s family background— their ancestry. In the […]
Kungkiq; Kankiiq – Ice Skate Cuumi kungkirtaallianga unuk nangpiarluku iraluwakan. – Before, I used to ice skate all night sometimes when the moon was out. (Click sentence to hear Alutiiq words spoken) December, many of Kodiak’s small ponds are often frozen over, strong enough to support ice skaters. Alutiiq Elders recall the joy of skating. […]
Kasaakaq – Russian Cuumi Kasaakat Sun’ami amlerta’umallriit. – Before in Kodiak there were (reportedly) a lot of Russians. (Click sentence to hear Alutiiq words spoken) The Russian era in Alaska began in the early eighteenth century, when explorers and traders sailed east from Siberia in search of new lands and resources. In addition to a […]