Kayunguq – Stormy Kayunguq, eh? – It’s stormy, eh? Despite mild temperatures, Kodiak lies in one of the most meteorologically active regions on earth. From September to April, a storm crosses the Gulf of Alaska every four to five days, bringing intense rain, high winds, and heavy seas. Kodiak’s location guaranties exposure to the complete […]
Neresta – Louse Aikut nerestangq’rtut. – The dogs have lice. Historic accounts indicate that lice were a constant plague in Native communities. These small, rapidly reproducing parasites were hard to eradicate, as people lived in tight quarters where lice passed easily from one person to the next. Moreover, people wore heavy fur and bird skin […]
Kalla’alek; Samanaq – Shaman Kalla’alek alingnartuq. – The shaman is scary. Alutiiq shamans healed the sick, foretold the future, controlled the weather, and recounted events in far-off places. They acted as intermediaries between the human and spirit worlds, fulfilling the dangerous task of communicating with animals, ancestors, and supernatural beings. Shamans could turn themselves into […]
Pukilaaq; Kapilaq; Tep’aq – Driftwood Pukilaanek iwa’at’skut. – Let’s look for driftwood. Spruce trees are a recent addition to the Kodiak environment. Pollen and tree-ring studies indicate that the spruce forests of Shuyak, Afognak, and northern Kodiak are 500 to 900 years old. For ancient Alutiiq communities, driftwood was the primary source of lumber for […]