Cama'i - Hello. The Alutiiq people are Native Alaskans. Their homeland stretches hundreds of miles across south central Alaska, from the rainforests of Prince William Sound to the windswept meadows of the Alaska Peninsula. The Kodiak archipelago lies at the heart of this region. Here, Alutiiqs have raised families for more than 7,500 years.
For nearly
two centuries Alutiiqs have practiced Orthodoxy, yet their expressions of faith
remain uniquely Alutiiq. This exhibit
explores Orthodoxy in Alutiiq life, from daily devotions, to the observance of
life events, and the celebration of Church holidays. Click the title above to open the exhibit to begin your exploration of Alutiiq spirituality.
Three Saints Church, Old Harbor, Alutiiq Museum Library
From the Arctic Ocean to Prince William Sound, Alaska’s Native people crafted swift, seaworthy boats from wood and animal skins. Each culture had a distinct style of qayaq with unique qualities designed to meet the demands of the environment. Alutiiq qayaqs were long and slender, built for flexibility in the rough, windy waters of the Pacific Ocean.
In every culture, however, the qayaq was a symbol of manhood. No man could be a successful provider without his own skin boat. Carefully crafted and well-maintained qayaqs were a lifeline. They allowed men to harvest fish and sea mammals from the ocean, to travel and trade over great distances, and to carry supplies home. In coastal Alaska, every man was qayaq builder and paddler.
Giinaquq : Like A Face
Sugpiaq Masks of the Kodiak Archipelago
Featuring the collection of Château-Muséeof Boulogne-sur-Mer, France
Giinaquq The Alutiiq word for mask - giinaquq - means “like a face, but not really.” This term reflects the mystical place that carved faces held in Alutiiq culture. Carefully crafted and ornately decorated masks were both works of art and powerful religious objects. Made to share history and represent the spirit world, their use in ceremonies allowed Alutiiq people to communicate with the spirits that controlled life. To the Alutiiq people, masks are - agayuullqutaq- “something to hold sacred.”
Music is universal. Every human society has a musical tradition. Although musical styles vary greatly between cultures, with unique sounds, instruments, and ways of performing, all peoples express themselves through music. Listen closely to a society’s songs and you will learn about their language, their values, and their history.
Kodiak Alutiiq music is deeply rooted in the winter festivals of prehistoric times, but it has been influenced by Kodiak's Western settlers. This exhibits looks at the music of ancient ceremonies, then consider Russian conquest and the introduction of Church music, the blending of European and Native culture in the American era, and musical celebrations of Alutiiq culture in the present. Even today, when radio, television, and computers place a world of music are our fingertips, music remains central to the celebration of Alutiiq culture.
