Augca’aq – Dart Game Augca’arciqut. – They are going to play the dart game. Gaming has long been a favorite recreational activity in Alutiiq communities. For centuries, people have gathered in each other’s homes to test their skills and make bets. Traditional throwing games, where people tossed darts or discs at a target, emphasized hand-eye […]
Qanerluni (N); Qan’rluni (S) – Cursing / Cussing Katallrianga kesiin qanernilngua. (N); Katallrianga kesiin qan’rnilngua (S). – I fell but I didn’t cuss. Swearing is universal. Whether expressing anger, insult, shock, pain, or even pleasure, people worldwide have a tendency to use colorful terms. Profanity is popular, and it is probably as old as spoken […]
Ciqlluaq – Sod House Gui ciqlluami et’aarllianga. – I used to live in a sod house. Known today by the Russian word barabara, the tradition Alutiiq house was a sod and thatch-covered structure built partially underground (semi-subterranean). After digging a foundation pit, builders erected a post-and-beam framework and covered it with planks split from driftwood. […]
Kulutruaq – Labret Kulutruaq gua’i. – The labret is right here. Throughout Alaska, many Native people wore labrets: decorative plugs of bone and stone inserted through holes pierced in their cheeks and below their lips. Alutiiq men and women wore labrets singly or in pairs. At birth, babies were fitted with a tiny starter labret, […]
Talataq – Cataract Talatangq’rtuq. – He has cataracts. Cataracts are a common problem among older people. As we age, proteins build up in the clear discs, or lenses, that form the center of our eyes. This slow process gradually reduces the amount of light that reaches the eyes, clouding vision. It also alters people’s perceptions […]
Kayunguq – Stormy Kayunguq, eh? – It’s stormy, eh? Despite mild temperatures, Kodiak lies in one of the most meteorologically active regions on earth. From September to April, a storm crosses the Gulf of Alaska every four to five days, bringing intense rain, high winds, and heavy seas. Kodiak’s location guaranties exposure to the complete […]
Neresta – Louse Aikut nerestangq’rtut. – The dogs have lice. Historic accounts indicate that lice were a constant plague in Native communities. These small, rapidly reproducing parasites were hard to eradicate, as people lived in tight quarters where lice passed easily from one person to the next. Moreover, people wore heavy fur and bird skin […]
Kalla’alek; Samanaq – Shaman Kalla’alek alingnartuq. – The shaman is scary. Alutiiq shamans healed the sick, foretold the future, controlled the weather, and recounted events in far-off places. They acted as intermediaries between the human and spirit worlds, fulfilling the dangerous task of communicating with animals, ancestors, and supernatural beings. Shamans could turn themselves into […]
Pukilaaq; Kapilaq; Tep’aq – Driftwood Pukilaanek iwa’at’skut. – Let’s look for driftwood. Spruce trees are a recent addition to the Kodiak environment. Pollen and tree-ring studies indicate that the spruce forests of Shuyak, Afognak, and northern Kodiak are 500 to 900 years old. For ancient Alutiiq communities, driftwood was the primary source of lumber for […]