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, […]
Qasartuq – RawMamaayat qasartaapet. – We eat clams raw. There is a common misconception that the word Eskimo means “eaters of raw flesh.” Linguistic research, however, suggests that the word actually translates as “snowshoe netter.” Despite this mistranslation, northern peoples are known for their consumption of uncooked foods. The Chukchi and Sami peoples eat many […]