Iraq – Devil Iraq asillpiarluni asiituq. – The Devil is very bad. In Alutiiq society, the word iraq translates as demon or devil, and once referred to the soul of an evil person. According to Alutiiq cosmology, instead of ascending to the sky world after death, like the souls of kind people, the souls of […]
Keneryaq – Bat (animal)Aliktaanka keneryat. – The bats scare me. Bats are not widespread in Alaska. There are just five species of these small flying mammals found mostly in forested areas of southeast and south central Alaska, where trees provide good roosting places. The most common Alaskan variety is the little brown bat (Latin: Myotis […]
Ilagluni – KnotWiRafkuuq ilag’ngauq. – The rope is knotted The Alutiiq verb for tying a knot–Ilagluni–is related to terms used for tangled, confused, or impassable. The sentence WiRafkuuq ilag’ngauq can mean either that a rope is secured with a knot or that it is tangled. In classical Alutiiq society, sturdy, knotted ropes, cords, and lines […]
Benny Benson-rem ernera – Benny Benson Day Unuaqu Benny Benson-rem ernera. – Tomorrow is Benny Benson’s Day. Many countries in the New World celebrate the second Monday in October as Columbus Day, honoring the European discovery of the Americas by Christopher Columbus. For indigenous people, however, Columbus Day represents the beginning of European colonization and […]