Sugpiat–Real People “Sugpianek” ap’rtaakiikut cuumi, nutaan ap’rtaaraakut Alutiit–They used to call us Sugpiaq before, but now we are called Alutiiqs. Who are Kodiak’s Native people? This a common question. Russian fur traders called them the Aleut, a word derived from a Siberian Native language that means coastal dweller. The Russian’s applied this term to all […]
Nanwam suugii–Lake Person / Mermaid Suuget ilait niu’uqurtaarait Nanwam suugi ell’uni.–Some people always talk about there being a ‘lake person.’ Stories of unusual creatures associated with water are ancient and found in many cultures. Greek myths talk of the sirens, birds with women’s faces whose sweet songs lure sailors to their death. The Scottish tell […]
Cuknaq–Hole Cuknangq’rtuq ulugken.–Your pants got a hole. The tools of classical Alutiiq society were often complex, featuring many parts. A harpoon, a cooking vessel, a suit of armor, or a mask had numerous carefully shaped, interlocking pieces. To fasten these pieces together, craftsmen drilled small holes for lashing and pegging. Alutiiq people drilled holes in […]
Tamuuliciqukut uksurpailan.–We will make dry fish before the winter. Winter in the Kodiak Archipelago quickly follows summer. As the days darken and stormy weather sets in, the landscape turns rapidly from green to brown, the temperature drops, and wet, windy days replace the warmer, foggy days of fall. In Prince William Sound, Alutiiq children once […]