Alutiiq Museum Bulletin Vol 16, No. 2, Autumn 2011 Campsite Archaeology – good things come in small packages Archaeologists have a way of focusing on the glamorous – Th e Amak site, and others along the Womens Bay coast, are temples, tombs, and shipwrecks for example. Kodiak may not have painting a new picture of Alutiiq history. Archaeologists have long pyramids, but over the past century archaeologists have been drawn assumed that Kodiak’s fi rst societies were highly mobile, that they to its most alluring sites; large coastal villages fi lled with midden. We lived in small groups, had portable shelters, and moved frequently. have learned a lot from these sites, but they provide just one picture While their sites are small, home to perhaps several families, some of the past. You can’t understand a society by studying only its cities contain more permanent structures. Carefully built earthen houses or monuments. You need a broader view. are older than previously recognized and suggest that families invested Over the last decade, museum archaeologists have been substantial amounts of labor and resources into creating dwellings. investigating the history of Womens Bay. Th is protected fi nger of In turn, this suggests that residents intended to stay. Kodiak’s early water just beyond the City of Kodiak is a microcosm of local history. families may not have moved as frequently as predicted. Sites of all eras and types occupy its shores. Years of research have Th e museum has also discovered a greater diversity of sites helped curator Patrick Saltonstall to understand the environment, than expected. Saltonstall explains. “I really thought the Amak and to look beyond the noticeable settlements to fi nd the smaller, site would hold another less obvious places people lived and worked. fi sh processing area. “Campsites, fi sh processing areas, quarries, and even hunting We almost didn’t work blinds are a part of Kodiak’s archaeological record,” said Saltonstall. here. Th e deposit’s locale “Scientists often talk about these sites, but few people have ever and size suggested that studied one.” it would be similar to With characteristic aplomb, Saltonstall and his crews of other sites we’ve studied community volunteers have been investigating a string of small sites nearby. However, we at the head of the bay. Saltonstall, who spent a lot of time in geology took a chance, and found classes, recognized that Womens Bay was once much longer. Today an entirely diff erent type Salonie Creek meanders across a broad meadow at the head of bay, of site. So far, the data but thousands of years ago this expanse of tangled brush was ocean suggest that hunters water, and people settled along its shore. stopped here to watch At the Amak site last August, museum crews excavated in a series for seals. We’ll see if this of small mounds tucked up against the ancient coast. Here they idea holds up. We plan found a unique and focused set of materials. Th e site contained long to excavate more next slate lances and sharpening tools, but little else. It also featured the year, and to look for sites tumbled remains of a rock ring, a roughly circular pile of water- on the opposite side of rounded boulders. Saltonstall had never encountered a similar the meadow. I think there structure, but he interprets it as a hunting blind. Here, perhaps is more to be learned 5000 years ago, seal hunters scanned the water, took shelter from the from the archaeology of Carmen Ceron holds a stone point wind, and worked on tools. Womens Bay.” from the Amak site. Starring Welcome Russian Christmas with carolers from the Holy Resurrection Russian Orthodox Church, Friday, January 6th. Refreshments and singing at the Alutiiq Museum following Vespers. Free to the public. Time to be announced. 1 Cama’i Friends Change is in the air. As winter descends on Kodiak I am struck by how much the museum has changed in just one year. We installed a major petroglyph exhibit, outfi tted our Alutiiq Museum collections shelving with new drawers, organized and digitized our library, and became a nationally accredited institution. Some of the most obvious change, however, is in our staff . Archaeological Repository 215 Mission Road, Suite 101 In recent months, we welcomed two new team members. Kodiak, Alaska 99615 Marya Halvorsen joined us in September to manage our store. Phone: 907-486-7004 Fax: 907-486-7048 A Kodiak High School graduate, with family ties to both Kodiak and the Aleutian Islands, Marya has been working in email: [email protected] Anchorage. She returns to the island with a strong knowledge www.alutiiqmuseum.org of merchandising and a commitment to customer service. We believe she will make our store shine. Danielle Ringer joined AAlutiiqlutiiq HHeritageeritage FFoundation:oundation: us in May, and has been ably leading our public outreach Chair: Will Anderson, Koniag, Inc. eff orts. Originally from Homer, she was working as subsistence Vice Chair: Margaret Roberts, Koniag, Inc. resource specialist for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game Secretary: Donene Tweten, Natives of Kodiak, Inc. when we met her. Danielle’s love of Kodiak, cheerful presence, Treasurer: Perry Eaton, Ouzinkie Native Corp. and creativity have already enhanced our events, outreach to Board Member: Margie Bezona, KANA schools, and local fundraising. Board Member: Fred Coyle, Akhiok-Kaguyak, Inc. Our Language Manager, April Laktonen Counceller, has Board Member: Ruth Dawson, Afognak Native Corp. accepted a position at Kodiak College starting in January, and will be continuing at the museum on a limited basis. In her Board Member: Tanya Inga, Old Harbor Native Corp. new position at the college, April will be developing courses Board Member: Gordon Pullar, at large to teach the Alutiiq language and culture. Th is is a wonderful Board Member: Andy Teuber, KANA opportunity for both April and our language. She is a gifted Open Seat: Leisnoi, Inc. instructor who has long argued that the single most important cultural preservation task before us is to provide Alutiiq AAlutiiqlutiiq MMuseumuseum SStaff:taff: language instruction. It is hard to see her leave the museum. Executive Director: Sven Haakanson, Jr. She has been an amazing creative force; a staff member whose Deputy Director: Amy Steffi an ideas and talents have enriched our work and community ties Museum Manager: Katie St. John immeasurably. Curator: Patrick Saltonstall With change, however, comes opportunity. I believe this Registrar: Marnie Leist is a moment for celebration and renewed collaboration. I am Exhibits Coordinator: Jill Lipka proud that Kodiak College is embracing Alutiiq studies in its Alutiiq Language Manager: April Laktonen Counceller curriculum, and her new position will allow her to remain Public Outreach Coordinator: Danielle Ringer involved with the many language activities happening in the Store Manager: Marya Halvorsen community. Th is is a wonderful development, and another example of how community organizations are joining forces Th e Alutiiq Museum is governed by Afgonak Native Corporation, Akhiok to uplift our ancestors’ culture. I am also proud that there is Kaguyak Inc., KANA, Koniag Inc., Leisnoi Inc., Natives of Kodiak Inc., a young Alutiiq woman with a PhD and knowledge of our Old Harbor Native Corporation, and Ouzinkie Native Corporation. Each organization elects a representative to the Alutiiq Heritage Foundation, the language to fi ll the position. Surely our ancestors are smiling. Alutiiq Museum’s board. Funding is provided by charitable contributions, We wish April the best of luck in her new position and membership fees, grants, contracts and sales from the museum store. pledge our continued commitment to language preservation. ALUTIIQ HERITAGE FOUNDATION Kodiak College has generously agreed to share April’s talents. MISSION STATEMENT: To support the good work already underway, April will spend Th e Alutiiq Heritage Foundation, through the Alutiiq Museum and a portion of her time and her summer months assisting the Archaeological Repository, preserve the traditions of the Alutiiq people and museum with language programming. Th e Alutiiq Word of promotes greater awareness of the rich cultural legacy of the indigenous the Week, Language Club, and the New Words Council will peoples of the greater Gulf of Alaska region. Our collections are held in all continue, but now there will be additional opportunities a repository that is accessible to the public. We encourage and support to learn Alutiiq in our community. Don’t miss your chance to research on Alutiiq culture history, and disseminate the results of this participate. research to the public through educational outreach, exhibits, special events, publications, and scholarly presentations. With our warmest holiday wishes to you and your family. Amlertut Uksut – May God grant you many years, Tax ID #92-0150422 Th e Alutiiq Museum Bulletin is published quarterly. Sven Haakanson, Jr. Printed by Camai Printing Taiciquten-qaa Sun’amen ARusistuami? – Are you coming to Kodiak on Christmas? 2 LLanguageanguage Dancing Forwards Holiday Jewelry Sale Th e sounds of Alutiiq songs and drumming rang through In honor of the holidays all of the Alutiiq Museum Store’s the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge Visitors Center on the non-consignment jewelry is on sale. Shop at our store any fi nal Day of the Museum’s Cutmen Agnguartukut (We are time in December Dancing Forward) Workshop last July. Participants worked in to receive at teams to put the fi nal touches on new Alutiiq performances 15% discount on – songs and dances written and choreographed during 3- dentalium shell days of intensive training. Each group readied their creations pieces by LaRita for a fi nal performance in front of their peers and workshop Laktonen, stone Instructors Th eresa John and Agatha John-Shields. mask pendants by Th e Dancing Forwards workshop united the expertise Doug Inga, silver of trained Yup’ik dancers and the knowledge of Kodiak and copper jewelry Alutiiq Elders to teach traditional dance methods, gestures, by Helm Johnson, drumming, and song development, while creating new dances and much more.