Alutiiq Word of the Week & Museum News

Blocked-Alutiiq Word of the Week

Blocked — Sapurluni Sapuraanga. – I am weathered in. (literally, “It blocked me.”) The Alutiiq verb sapuluku means, “to block it”:…

Dart Game — Augca’aq Augca’arciqut. – They are going to play the dart game. Gaming has long been a…

Rib — Raatateq Isuwim raatatii mangirnartuk. – Seal ribs are good to gnaw on. Animal ribs were once an…

KODIAK, AK—The Alutiiq Museum is honored to present a new exhibit in its Living Culture Gallery. This exhibit shares…

Alder — Uqgwik Uqgwit kua’akameng cillkataartut. – When alders burn they make a crackling sound. Sitka alder (Alnus crispa)…

Puffins — Tunngat Tunngat manigtut p’hnami. – The puffins are laying eggs on the cliff. Puffins, also known as…

Vole, Mouse — Kriisaq (N), Ugna’aq (S) Kaugya’at ugna’anek nertaartut. – Foxes eat voles. The northern vole (Microtus oeconomus),…

Limpet — Sawak’iitaq, Spuungqulaq Suupaligua sawak’iitanek. – I am making soup from limpets. Limpets (Lottia spp.) are among the intertidal…

Mosquito — Mengquiluq Mengquilum kegkiinga.—The mosquito bit me. Mosquitoes are small flies of the Culicidae family. There are thirty-five…

Dog — Aikuq (N), Sapakaq (N), Piugta (S) April mal’ugnek piugtengq’rtuq. – April has two dogs. Archaeological sites in…