Steam Bath, Banya — Maqiwik Maqiwik uqnaarllia. – The banya was hot. Alutiiq sod houses had a small side chamber designed specifically for steam bathing. This room had a low ceiling and a narrow, covered doorway that trapped steam. People carried hot rocks into the steam bath with special wooden tongs and piled them into […]
MAQIWIK – STEAM BATH MAQIWIK UQNAARLLIA. – THE BANYA WAS HOT. Alutiiq sod houses had a small side chamber designed specifically for steam bathing. This room had a low ceiling and a narrow, covered doorway that trapped steam. People carried hot rocks into the steam bath with special wooden tongs and piled them into a […]
Matarngaluni—Naked Cuumi agnguartaallriit matarngaluteng.—They used to always dance naked. Clothing is an ancient and uniquely human invention. No other species makes and wears clothes. Anthropologists believe that clothing evolved for both practical and social purposes, to protect the human body from weather and to share messages. Because of its cultural origins, clothing is closely tied […]
A fire in Chiniak did extensive damage to a home there when a banya burnt down to the ground on Monday near mile 42 of the Chiniak Highway. Alaska State Troopers were notified of the blaze at 11:57 pm. Homeowner Doug Stewart had lit the banya on Monday for a Monday evening steam-bath. He invited […]