Amutaq – CodAmutarsuqutartuq. – They are going to get some cod. Pacific cod or grey cod (Gadus marcocephalus) is an abundant, bottom-dwelling, round fish found widely in the Gulf of Alaska. These fast-growing, schooling fish are highly mobile. Cod winter in deep waters along the upper slope of the continental shelf, where they spawn. In […]
Piq’ruutaq (S), Piq’rquutaq (N) – ClubLaptuukumta piq’ruutamek aturtaartukut. – When we play laptuuk we always use a bat. Imagine that you are seated in your skin kayak enjoying a day of ocean fishing. Your boat bobs in the swell as you wait patiently. A strong tug on your hand-held kelp line tells you that a […]
Kumlurngaq – HummingbirdKumlurngam manait nakertut. – Hummingbird eggs are lucky. Rufous hummingbirds (Latin: Selasphorus rufus) are the world’s northernmost hummers. These tiny birds are about three inches long, with a dark, straight bill, and bright orange and green plumage. Males have a shimmering splash of red or purple feathers on their throats–a swatch of color […]
Iqallungcuk – Little FishTaugna piugcinitaqa, iqallungcuk mikpakartuq! – I don’t want that (one), the fish is too small. In the Alutiiq language there is a distinction between fish of different sizes. If you want to speak of fish generally, you use the word iqalluk, but if you are referring to smaller fish like smelt, capelin, […]