Keneryaq – Bat (animal)Aliktaanka keneryat. – The bats scare me. Bats are not widespread in Alaska. There are just five species of these small flying mammals found mostly in forested areas of southeast and south central Alaska, where trees provide good roosting places. The most common Alaskan variety is the little brown bat (Latin: Myotis […]
Ilagluni – KnotWiRafkuuq ilag’ngauq. – The rope is knotted The Alutiiq verb for tying a knot–Ilagluni–is related to terms used for tangled, confused, or impassable. The sentence WiRafkuuq ilag’ngauq can mean either that a rope is secured with a knot or that it is tangled. In classical Alutiiq society, sturdy, knotted ropes, cords, and lines […]
Benny Benson-rem ernera – Benny Benson Day Unuaqu Benny Benson-rem ernera. – Tomorrow is Benny Benson’s Day. Many countries in the New World celebrate the second Monday in October as Columbus Day, honoring the European discovery of the Americas by Christopher Columbus. For indigenous people, however, Columbus Day represents the beginning of European colonization and […]
Cikusinaq – GlacierCikusinat urugcaurtut. – The glaciers are starting to melt. In the Alutiiq language, the term for glacier varies by region. Among Kodiak area Alutiiq speakers, the word is cikusinaq. The root of this word, ciku-, means ice, piece of ice, or iceberg. Add the suffix –sinaq, meaning large or great, and you get […]