URIITAQ – CHITON KASUKUAGMEN AGKUMA, URIITARSURCIQUA. – WHEN I GO TO AKHIOK I AM GOING TO GO GET SOME BIDARKIES (CHITONS). Kodiak’s intertidal fauna include a variety of chitons, a mollusk related to clams, snails, and limpets. Chitons have eight symmetrical, overlapping shell plates that cover a soft body and a large oval foot. […]
The Rasmuson Foundation has granted the Alutiiq Museum $25,000 to support its operations. The unsolicited grant arrived in the mail in January. It was accompanied by a note of praise for the organization’s leadership and encouragement for the museum’s work. Rasmuson Foundation President and CEO Diane Kaplan wrote, “This grant is for general support […]
QILUT – GUTS AANAQA ISUWIM QILUNEK KENIRLLIA. – MY MOTHER COOKED SEAL GUTS. In addition to food and oil, Kodiak’s mammals provided the Alutiiq with gut: a flexible, durable, waterproof material derived from the intestines of bears and sea mammals. Gut was sewn into a variety of bags, caps, and hooded jackets: the Gortex […]
AMIIK – DOOR AMIIK PATUMAUQ – THE DOOR IS CLOSED. Alutiiq people once entered their sod houses through low, narrow passageways—or entrance tunnels. The door to this tunnel was about a three feet square and usually faced the nearest waterway. A piece of seal or sea lion skin tied to the posts framing the […]