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, […]
Iqlluwista – Cheater / Trickster Iqlluwingnaqaaten. – He is trying to cheat you. Things are not always as they seem! This is a message found in many Alutiiq legends, which feature tales of trickery. Trusting people are fooled by the seemingly good intentions of others–betrayed by loved ones, tricked by friends, or cheated by strangers. […]