QAUGLUK — EYEBROWS ILAIT QAUGLUTUTAARTUT.— SOME EYE BROWS ARE LONG. Faces are a common subject in Alutiiq sculpture and graphic art. Petroglyphs, paintings, incised drawings, masks, dolls, and other carvings show both human and animal faces. In all these mediums, artists use a distinctive design—a connected nose and brow motif. A straight line symbolizes […]
SULUNAQ – SALT FISH SULUNAQ PITURNIRTAARTUQ. – SALT FISH IS ALWAYS TASTY. For centuries, people around the world have enjoyed salted fish. The interaction of salt and fish enzymes creates a wonderful flavor, especially in cod. Salt is also an effective preservative. It limits the growth of bacteria. Fishermen working in both the Atlantic […]
QULIYANGUAQ – STORY QULIYANGUA’UCIIKAMKEN. – I WILL TELL YOU A STORY. Among societies without a written language, storytelling is one way to record history. People pass family accomplishments, survival techniques, and social values from generation to generation through each other rather than books. Alutiiq people often embellished stories with drawings or transformed them into […]
SLAAWIRLUNI – STARRING RAUSISTUAMI SLAAWIRTAARTUKUT. – AT RUSSIAN CHRISTMAS TIME WE GO STARRING. Each January, the Russian Orthodox faithful in Alutiiq communities honor the birth of Christ with starring, a caroling celebration. Carolers travel from house to house carrying a large, brightly decorated, twirling star that symbolizes the Star of Bethlehem. They announce the […]