Aren Gunderson parks his truck, steps out and strips off his sweatshirt. “I always take off my outer clothing layer,” says the caretaker of the University of Alaska Museum’s colony of flesh-eating beetles. “The stink will stay with you.” Gunderson, mammal collection manager at the museum, approaches a weathered set of buildings. He swings open […]
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 […]