Qik’rtaq—Island Quangkuta qik’rtarmiu’at.—We are island people. The Alutiiq word qik’rtaq, meaning island, is the likely source of the name Kodiak. Stephen Glotov, a Russian explorer who wintered near Cape Alitak in 1763, recorded the Native term […]
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 […]
Cama’i! The days are getting longer and spring feels like it’s just around the corner. The museum store has lots of new book titles to get you ready for the plants to bloom. From wildflower plant guides to wild food cookbooks, we have everything you need to get ready for the growing season. Did you […]
llicarluni/lliigaaluni—Gesture, Sign Language Aigateng aturtaaqait llicarluteng.—They used to use their hands, gesturing (to talk). The worlds cultures have devised numerous, ingenious, ways to exchange information. Beyond the spoken and written word, societies use movement, expressions, pictures, and many forms of artwork for intentional communication. Gesturing is a particularly common form of non-verbal speech. People in […]