Nettle — Uqaayanaq Uqaayanat angtaartut. – Nettles are big. The stinging nettle (Urtica lyalli) grows widely across the northern hemisphere. It thrives in open meadows, flourishes in damp soil, and is found commonly in dense clusters in areas disturbed by human activity. In the Gulf of Alaska, nettles often grow on the surface of archaeological […]
Snipe — Kulic’kiiq Kulic’kiit miktut, kesiin piturnirtut. – Snipes are small but they taste good. The common snipe (Gallinago gallinago) is a shorebird found around Kodiak’s grassy coastal meadows, ponds, and fields during summer. This member of the sandpiper family breeds yearly across northern North America, then heads south to winter in warmer climates. A […]
Pineapple Weed, Wild Chamomile — ARam’aas’kaaq Una aRam’aas’kaaq caayuq piturnirtuq. – This chamomile tea tastes good. Pineapple weed (Matricaria matricarioides) is a widespread, low-growing herb with pale green, berrylike flowers and a fruity scent. It thrives in open fields and disturbed areas, and grows particularly well around human settlements. European settlers introduced Pineapple weed to […]
Arm — Ipik Ipigka awa tukniya’utuk. – My arms now are getting weak. In classical Alutiiq society, people wore long, hoodless robes stitched from bird or animal skins. These garments had loose, heavy sleeves that could make completing daily chores difficult. To facilitate work, seamstresses created slits in the sides of these robes, long narrow […]