MuRutuumasqaq – Battered Thing Una muRutuumasqaq yaamamek giinangq’rtuq. – This pounded rock has a face. Alutiiq people crafted stone into a variety of useful tools, turning Kodiak bedrock into subsistence gear, utensils, and artwork. There were three major ways of working stone. People chipped glassy chert into elegant arrows and hide scrapers. They ground slate […]
Qiluryaq – Braided Seal Gut Taugkut qiluryat ekllinartut. – Those braided seal gut look delicious. Visitors to Kodiak often ask how Alutiiq people can hunt protected species like sea otters and sea lions. In 1972, the Marine Mammal Protection Act prohibited the harvesting of all marine mammals to preserve their populations. However, this law recognizes […]
Qikarlluk – Sinew Cuumi arnat minq’rtaallriit qikarllugmek aturluteng. – Women used to always sew using sinew. Sinew is a general term for the tough, fibrous, connective tissue found throughout an animal’s body. Tendons and ligaments are both sources of sinew. Tendons connect bones to muscle, while ligaments connect bone to bone. Sinew is a valuable […]
Tumasurluni – Track (to stalk) Tamasurtaallriakut kaugyanek. – We used to track foxes. Alutiiq hunters stalk animals with great knowledge of both animal behavior and the Kodiak environment, using their knowledge to intercept animals, improve the success of their hunts, and protect themselves. Historic sources indicate that Alutiiq men in search of a bear did […]