Kasnaam Ernera – Independence Day Ernerpak Kasnaam ernera. – Today is Independence Day. People often think of summer as a time when communities disperse, as people move to fish camps or travel. But where resources are abundant and predictable, communities often gather in the summer. Long, warm days offer opportunities to harvest foods and to […]
Karluk — Kal’ut, Kal’uq Kal’uni sullianga. – I was born in Karluk. The Alutiiq village of Karluk lies on the southwestern shore of Kodiak Island. Tucked between treeless rolling hills, the community rests on the banks of the Karluk River. This is the longest fresh watercourse in the archipelago and once was the region’s […]
Elderberry — Tuuciik Tuuciiqutat alagnangq’rtaartut. – The elderberry bushes always have berries. Red elderberry (Sambucus racemosa) is a large shrub with toothed leaves and soft wood that grows up to twelve feet tall. This bush occurs throughout northern North America in both wooded and open areas. Around Kodiak, it is particularly fond of the […]
Mark — Ceterluki Kapsuutait cetertaallkait. – They used to mark their spears. The Alutiiq verb ceterluni can mean either to mark or to scratch. Today, some of the Alutiiq words for pencil, pen, and even signature are related to this term. In the past, however, ceterluki probably referred to making ownership marks. Across the north, coastal peoples identified […]