Augyaq, arauryaq—Crowberry, Blackberry Augyat lliitaakait uqumen.—They always put crowberries in oil. The crowberry, or blackberry, is a low growing, evergreen shrub found throughout the Kodiak Archipelago. This plant thrives in a variety of habitats, from bogs to spruce forests. In the spring it blooms with small lavender flowers. In August, it produces round, shiny, black […]
Culuk—Feather Mas’kaaq culungq’rtuq.—The mask has feathers. Birds were a central part of classical Alutiiq society, both as an economic resource and as spiritual beings. In addition to eggs and meat, they provided a variety of feathers with important everyday uses. Eagle feathers were used in mattresses and as fletching for hunting arrows and toy darts. […]
Palat’kaaq, PaRat’kaaq—Tent Akgua’aqu palat’kaami qawarciqua.—I am going to sleep in the tent tonight. Kodiak’s archaeological sites indicate that the island’s first residents built tents. In some places, a selection of shallow post holes around a simple stone hearth suggests the use of temporary or even portable structures. In others, more permanent, circular dwelling made with […]
Yaataq—Poison Pitun’illgu una-yaatartuq!—Don’t eat this—it is poisonous! Alutiiq people have long recognized the poisonous qualities of certain local plants. Some of these plants were harvested for their medicinal value, and at least one was used in hunting. The most well-known Alutiiq poison was made from the roots of the monkshood plant, Aconitum delphinifolium. This beautiful […]