Ocean-Alutiiq Word of the Week-August 12th
Imaq—Ocean Imam taanga taryutuu’uq.—The ocean’s water is salty. The bountiful North Pacific Ocean has been the economic foundation of Alutiiq…
Crow/Blackberry-Alutiiq Word of the Week-August 5th
Augyaq, arauryaq—Crowberry, Blackberry Augyat lliitaakait uqumen.—They always put crowberries in oil. The crowberry, or blackberry, is a low growing, evergreen…
Feather-Alutiiq Word of the Week-July 29th
Culuk—Feather Mas’kaaq culungq’rtuq.—The mask has feathers. Birds were a central part of classical Alutiiq society, both as an economic resource…
Tent-Alutiiq Word of the Week-July 22nd
Palat’kaaq, PaRat’kaaq—Tent Akgua’aqu palat’kaami qawarciqua.—I am going to sleep in the tent tonight. Kodiak’s archaeological sites indicate that the island’s…
Poison-Alutiiq Word of the Week-July 16th
Yaataq—Poison Pitun’illgu una-yaatartuq!—Don’t eat this—it is poisonous! Alutiiq people have long recognized the poisonous qualities of certain local plants. Some…
Fish Hook-Alutiiq Word of the Week-July 8th
Iqsak—Fishhook Iksak ipegtuq.—The fishhook is sharp. Archaeological sites in the Kodiak Archipelago illustrate that Alutiiq ancestors have harvested marine fish…
Open Skin Boat-Alutiiq Word of the Week-July 2nd
Angyaq—Open Skin Boat Angyakun aiwikutartukut.—We are going (away) by open boat. The Alutiiq angyaq is a large open boat much…
Chiniak-Alutiiq Word of the Week-June 24th
Cingiyaq–Chiniak Cingiyaq yaqsigtuq Sun’amek kaarakun.–Chiniak is far from Kodiak by car. Follow the highway forty-five miles southeast of the city…
Karluk-Alutiiq Word of the Week-June 17th
Kal’ut, Kal’uq–Karluk Kal’uni sullianga.–I was born in Karluk. The Alutiiq village of Karluk lies on the southwestern shore of Kodiak…
Dolly Varden-Alutiiq Word of the Week-June 10th
Nanwam Ancia–Dolly Varden Nanwam ancii miktaartut.–Lake trout are always small. Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma Walbaum) belong to a group of…