Fishing and subsistence The people traditionally lived a coastal lifestyle, subsisting primarily on ocean resources that were supplemented with rich land resources, such as berries and land mammals. The exact methods of subsistence would change throughout the seasons.
Ugnerkaq, or spring, was often regarded as the most difficult season to survive in due to the winter's limiting of resources. During this time, the Alutiiq would turn to the shore, collecting
shellfish, hunting
octopuses, and pick greens during low tide. As the season furthered, fish and
sea mammals would gradually move closer to shore to feed. Alutiiq would then hook
cod and
halibut, collect
herring eggs, and hunt for seals. As
Kiak, or summer, approached, activity increased out on the open ocean. Fishing for halibut and cod would continue to remain prevalent, along with the hunting and harvest at
seal and
sea lion haulouts, and bird rookeries even common feeding grounds for
humpback whales. Trees and shrubs such as
cedar (
Qar’usiq;
Qasrulek,
Thuja plicata,
Callitropsis nootkatensis),
Kenai birch,
Sitka spruce (
Napaq), and other were harvested for their medical and nutritional value. During this time trade would emerge with the natives of mainland Alaska for materials such as antler,
ivory,
caribou pelts, and glassy stone, not available on Kodiak. During
Uksuaq, or fall, much of the work that was done was in preparation for winter. They pick
berries sweetened by the first frosts; harvest large quantities of
salmon spawning in local streams; hunt fat
bears headed for hibernation, and shoot
ducks migrating south for the winter. Much of their harvest would be preserved for winter. This was done a variety of ways: from drying, smoking, storing in oil, or freezing foods. During the harsh storms of
Uksuq, or winter, most of the season would be spent insides, with occasional breaks in the storms allowing for the
trapping of
foxes and ermine, hunting ducks, or fishing through lake or river ice. While inside, celebrations and festivals would be held in honor of the harvest, and ancestors
Housing Before contact with Russian fur traders, they lived in semi-subterranean homes called
ciqlluaq. Today, in the 21st century, the Alutiiq live in coastal fishing communities in more modern housing. They work in all aspects of the modern economy, while also maintaining the cultural value of subsistence.
Cultural arts Traditional Alutiiq art are sources of pride for many as they typically highlight the importance of ancestors, the endurance and preservation of tradition, and the beauty of the natural world that sustain Alutiiq life. Physical medians of expression include
pinguat–beads (made from shell, bone, ivory, amber, coal, shale, slate and fish vertebrae), woodcarvings in relation to
Alutiiq religion, skin sown articles of clothing for celebratory and traditional use, and grass weaving of both artistic expression and functional application. During festivals, story telling, singing and dancing were all important means of passing down history through generations as Alutiiq lacked a formal system of writing.
Language In 2010 the high school in
Kodiak responded to requests from Alutiiq students and agreed to teach the
Alutiiq language. It is one of the
Eskaleut languages, belonging to the
Yup'ik branch of these languages. The Kodiak dialect of the language was being spoken by only about 50 persons, all of them elderly, and the dialect was in danger of being lost entirely. == Notable people ==