NIKLLIQ – SOCKEYE SALMON NIKLLINEK KUPCUUNALIRCIQUKUT. – WE ARE GOING TO MAKE SMOKED SALMON OUT OF RED SALMON. Sockeye salmon, or red salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka), are the first salmon to move into Kodiak’s freshwater streams each year. They begin arriving in early May and are the second most abundant salmon species. More than two […]
UQAAYANAQ – NETTLE UQAAYANAT ANGTAARTUT. – NETTLES ARE BIG. The stinging nettle (Urtica lyalli) grows widely across the northern hemisphere. It thrives in open meadows, flourishes in damp soil, and is found commonly in dense clusters in areas disturbed by human activity. In the Gulf of Alaska, nettles often grow on the surface of […]
KUM’AGYAK – EAGLE KUM’AGYAK UQGUWMI MISNGAUQ. – AN EAGLE IS PERCHED IN THE TREE. Bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) are a common sight in Kodiak’s coastal environments. These large, territorial raptors eat a variety of fish, small mammals, and birds and may occur in great concentrations when feeding on migratory species like herring or salmon. […]
ANGUAQ – PADDLE ANGUAQ TAISGU. – GIVE ME THE PADDLE. Alutiiq hunters propelled their skin-covered kayaks through coastal waters with narrow wooden paddles. Unlike the double-bladed paddles of neighboring peoples, these paddles had a long, spear-shaped, single blade and a short T-shaped handle, much like a modern canoe paddle. Craftsmen carved these paddles from hard […]