Barrel — Puuc’kaaq Puuc’kaat saRayami et’ut. – The barrels are in the shed. The Alutiiq word for barrel—puuc’kaaq—comes from the Russian word bochka, also meaning barrel. This link reflects the use of barrels for bulk storage on sailing ships in the early historic era. Russian traders imported grain, beads, and many other commodities to Alaska in […]
I Got It!, Bingo! — Pingua! Bingo-mi pingneq pingaktaaqa. – I like to win at bingo. “Pingua! I got it!” you might shout while reeling in a big salmon. However, this Alutiiq word is most commonly heard in Alutiiq language bingo games in classroom settings. Alutiiq students shout “pingua!” instead of “bingo!” when they fill […]
The Alutiiq Museum released Coloring Iqalluut—Fish. This 28-page coloring book explores many aspects of Kodiak Alutiiq fishing, from the species caught to the seasonal rhythm of fishing and the tools used in harvesting. The publication features original drawings by Alutiiq artist Hanna Sholl, Alutiiq language vocabulary shared by Elder Alutiiq speakers, and a brief introduction to […]
Barbed — Cukingq’rtuq Iqsak cukingq’rtuq. – The fishhook has a barb. Alutiiq hunters carved barbs into a variety of weapons. This included harpoon heads, arrowheads, leister prongs, and fish hooks made of strong, shock-absorbing bone, as well as sharp-edged lance heads ground from slate. These barbs were carefully designed to grip an animal’s flesh. Barb […]