Ken’aayuq – Dena’ina Athabaskan Anaanarpet Ken’aayuq. – Our aunt is a Dena’ina Athabaskan. The Dena’ina are one of eleven Athabaskan Indian groups in Alaska. Their homeland includes the shores of Cook Inlet, interior regions of the Kenai Peninsula and the northern Alaska Peninsula, and the Matanuska and Susitna river valleys. The term Dena’ina means “the […]
Arnauciq – Person of Two Spirits Arnaurciqsaqlluni. – He has feminine ways. Many societies recognize a difference between biological and social gender. Most people are born physiologically male or female. Yet, people live and experience gender in different ways, and concepts of gender vary greatly between cultures. Throughout history, and across the globe, societies have […]
Neqlleq – Emperor Goose Neqllet taitaartut maut uksugmi. – The emperor geese always come here in the winter. Five species of geese are found across Alaska, four of which commonly visit Kodiak. One of the prettiest is the Emperor Goose (Chen canagica). This small bird has a black throat with a dramatic white head and […]
Kulutruaq – Labret Kulutruaq gua’i. – The labret is right here. Throughout Alaska, many Native people wore labrets: decorative plugs of bone and stone inserted through holes pierced in their cheeks and below their lips. Alutiiq men and women wore labrets singly or in pairs. At birth, babies were fitted with a tiny starter labret, […]