Sua (literally, “Its person”); Anerneq (literally, “breath”) – Spirit Caqiq tamarmi suangq’rtuq. – Something all around has a spirit. The Alutiiq concept of a spirit is complex. Alutiiq people traditionally believe that everything in the universe—living things, objects, places, and natural phenomenon like the northern lights—has a spirit or essence. This essence is characterized by […]
Tayarnerutaq – Bracelet Tayarnerutamek nuliqa pikisk’gka. – I gave my wife a bracelet. The Alutiiq word tayarnerutaq literally means “something for your wrist.” In classical Alutiiq society, a number of objects fell into this category. Some things worn on the wrist were jewelry, bracelets created for adornment. In the nineteenth century, Alutiiq women wore bracelets […]
Cikuq – Ice Nanwat cikumaut. – The lakes are frozen over. Kodiak may lie south of the frozen arctic regions of Alaska, but from 1852 to 1870, it was a known for its ice. In the 1850s the California gold rush was in full swing, and the west coast needed ice to preserve food. Russian […]
Nuniaq – Old Harbor Nuniarmiuq-qaa ellpet? – Are you an Old Harbor person? The community of Old Harbor (Nuniaq) has its origins in the era of Russian conquest. In 1784, Russian traders massacred several hundred Alutiiq men, women, and children at Refuge Rock, a tiny island off the eastern coast of Sitkalidak Island. In Alutiiq, […]