Alutiiq Foods Project

Kaigtuten? Are You Hungry?

A scatter of broken clamshells hints than an octopus is hiding under a nearby rock. Seal intestines should be rinsed with salt water before stuffing. Eating fatty king salmon can interfere with the effectiveness of some plant medicines.  These are examples of the cultural knowledge about wild foods preserved in Alutiiq people.  Through Neq’rkat: The Alutiiq Wild Foods Project the Alutiiq Museum is exploring the knowledge of Kodiak's most experienced wild food harvesters and cooks to document, share, and perpetuate tribal subsistence traditions.

Although wild foods are well known on Kodiak, many younger tribal members have little experience harvesting, processing, or preparing these foods. Moreover, there are few records of Alutiiq food traditions. Through a series of monthly, videotaped interviews and community events, the Alutiiq Museum will explore and document the use of 12 widely available wild foods.  The process will capture fading subsistence traditions, particularly little recorded knowledge of food processing and preparation.  Project videos will help the museum develop a short video on each food, a recipe booklet, and a page for the museum’s website.  These resources will share Alutiiq food traditions with the community and promote the perpetuation of healthy, culturally valued subsistence practices.

Please contact Public Outreach Coordinator Danielle Ringer for more information.

Photo:  Linda Mullan cooking on Raspberry Island, Courtesy Juney Mullan.

Share Link: