Laatanaq – IncenseAgayuwigmi laatanamek aturtaartut. – They use incense at the church. Incense is an integral part of Russian Orthodox Church services. Attend worship in a Kodiak church and you will see the priest swinging an ornate metal censer. As he venerates the four sides of the altar, smoke wafts from the censer, filling the […]
Cuumillat; Cuuliallrat; Cuulirat – AncestorsCuumillat lisngataallit. – The ancestors were very learned. Concepts of time differ between societies. Western cultures think of time as linear and progressive: species evolve, investments grow, technologies develop, and the past is often seen as outdated or quaint. To many Native people, including Alutiiqs, time is more circular and fluid. […]
Cauyaq – Drum; MusicCauyaq nitniqgu. – Listen to the drum. In the traditional Alutiiq language, the word for drum and music are the same: cauyaq. This duality illustrates the importance of drums to traditional Alutiiq music. Although Alutiiqs also perform with rattles and whistles, the drum, with its penetrating beat, is their main instrument. Drumming […]
PiRuq – Perok; Fish PiePiRuq piturnirtuq. – Perok tastes good. Alutiiq cuisine, like Alutiiq culture, is a mixture of Native and European traditions that reflects Kodiak’s rich cultural history. Foods inspired by Russian culture can be found on many Alutiiq tables: berry tarts in the summer, sweet kulich bread at Easter, and perok throughout the […]