ATUUN, ATUUTEQ – SONG KAS’AQ AMLESQANEK ATUUTET NALLUNITUQ. – THE PRIEST KNOWS MANY SONGS. Singing is a favorite pastime in Alutiiq communities. People of all ages enjoy sharing a tune or learning an Elder’s favorite melody. In addition to expressing joy and companionship, songs are a form of storytelling. They record community history, express values, […]
ILUWAQ – COUSIN AMLESQANEK ILUWANGQ’RTUA. – I HAVE MANY COUSINS. The term cousin can be applied to a confusing array of relatives. In American society, a cousin is any child of an aunt or an uncle. However, cultures around the world differentiate between types of cousins, especially parallel and cross cousins. Parallel cousins are the […]
NUYAT – HAIR SUK UKSURTUWIQAMI NUYAI QAT’RITAARTUT. – WHEN A PERSON GETS TO BE AN ELDER THEIR HAIR TURNS GRAY (WHITE). Before the adoption of western hairstyles in the mid-nineteenth century, Alutiiq men and women wore their hair long. Men typically cut their hair at the shoulders and braided it. Women cut bangs across their […]
KAKIWIK – SEWING BAG MINGQUN KAKIWIGMI ET’UQ. – THE NEEDLE IS IN THE SEWING BAG. Alutiiq women are known for their sewing skill. In ancient times, they used delicate ivory and bird bone needles, bird bone awls, and wooden spools of animal sinew to stitch fine clothing. Their tools were stored in sewing bags with […]