Nanwarnaq – Lagoon Cuumi suuget nayuryartaallriit nanwarnarmen. – People used to go hunt ducks at the lagoon. The Alutiiq word for lagoon comes from the word nanwaq meaning lake. This is an apt description. Like lakes, lagoons are protected bodies of water. Most are separated from the ocean by some type of barrier—a sand bar, a reef, […]
Negtaq – Nest Mal’uk manik tang’ranka negtami. – I see the two eggs in the nest. Along the cost of Kodiak, sea birds nest in a variety of habitats. From the beach to rocky cliff faces, each species has a preferred habitat. Gulls like flat ground. Murres perch on ledges. Puffins burrow or rest in […]
Qugaarkunani—To not give up, to persevere Taugna suk qugaartenilnguq.—The person didn’t give up. Perseverance is a necessary quality for anyone living a subsistence lifestyle. Long journeys, arduous tasks, and challenging weather require physical and mental strength. Alutiiq harvesters recall long days splitting thousands of fish, packing food across mountains, boat trips in heavy seas, and […]
Qutirluni – To beachcomb Caqimek ikugtaartukut qutiyaqamta. – Whenever we go beachcombing, we always find something. Kodiak’s windy shores provide a wealth of resources, from blue mussels and bull kelp to birds’ eggs. However, not all of the valuable items found on the beach are from the archipelago. Islanders have a long history of beachcombing, […]