| A | B
| C | D | E | F
| G | H | I | J
| K | L | M | N
| O | P | Q | R
| S | T | U | V
| W | X | Y | Z
|
A
Aleut
The name of the Alaska Native peoples whose territory includes the Aleutian Islands, the Pribilof Islands, and the Alaska Peninsula west of Sepovak Bay; the name of the language spoken by the Aleut people. Aleut is a Russian name; the Aleut people's traditional name for themselves is Unangan.
Aleutian Islands
A chain of 78 islands in southwestern Alaska extending 1,200 miles southwest from the tip of the Alaska Peninsula.
alevin
Larval salmon that have hatched but have not yet completely absorbed their yolk sac and usually have not yet emerged from the gravel at the bottom of the river. (see yolk sac)
Alutiiq / Sugpiaq
The name for the Alaska Native people whose territory encompasses the Alaska Peninsula to Prince William Sound, including Kodiak Island; A form of the Yupik Eskimo language, which is spoken in two dialects by the Alutiiq / Sugpiaq people. Alutiiq is a Russian name; the Alutiiq people's traditional name for themselves is Sugpiaq. Currently there is an effort being made by the Alutiiq/Sugpiaq people to phase out the name Alutiiq and return to the traditional name of Sugpiaq.
amulet
A decorative figure of a spirit animal, spirit helper or spiritual symbol that is used like a charm to call upon the help of good spirits and ward off bad ones. An amulet is distinguished from an effigy in that is usually worn or carried rather than displayed.
Anchorage
The largest city in Alaska and major center of domestic and international commerce, located in Cook Inlet, south central Alaska.
annual
Yearly; by year; every year.
anonymous
Having an unknown, withheld or unacknowledged name.
anthropologist
One who studies the physical, social, and cultural development of people.
archipelago
A large group of islands.
Arctic ice pack
A large, floating expanse of broken ice masses frozen together in the Arctic Ocean.
Arctic Ocean
The waters surrounding the North Pole between North America, Europe, and Asia. This is the smallest ocean in the world, and it is mostly covered by the polar ice pack throughout the year.
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B
baleen
Fringed plates that hang from the upper jaws of baleen whales, such as the bowhead. They are designed to filter plankton from the water so the whale can eat.
Barrow
The northernmost city in the United States and the largest community of Inupiat people in the world. Barrow is the center of subsistence whaling activities on the North Slope of Alaska and the administrative center of the North Slope Borough. Point Barrow, which is just 9 miles northeast of the city, is the northernmost point in the United States. Due to how far north it is, the sun does not come above the horizon in Barrow from mid-November through late January.
Bering Land Bridge
During the last Ice Age there were several glacial periods, which exposed the continental shelf between Asia and North America. During each period there was a transfer of ocean water into glacial ice. Consequently, the sea level worldwide was lowered, which exposed the continental shelves. The last glacial period that exposed the Bering Land Bridge occurred about 20,000 years ago. It permitted the migration of plants and animals between the two continents. This area was a flat plain more than 600 miles wide north to south.
Bering Sea
A part of the Pacific Ocean between Siberia and Alaska, lying north of the Aleutian Islands and connected to the Arctic Ocean by the Bering Strait. Vitrus Bering first explored the region in the 17th century under orders by the Russian Czar to discover whether or not Russia and America were connected by land.
bidarka
This is the Russian word for kayak, a slender, watertight Eskimo boat propelled by paddles. A kayak is made of a light wooden frame completely covered with skins except for opening(s) for the paddler(s). Kayaks have one, two or three holes or cockpits for paddlers.
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C
canvas
A heavy, coarse, closely woven fabric of cotton, hemp, or flax, used for tents and sails.
cockpit
An opening in the deck of a kayak for the paddler.
compass rose
An image of a directional compass on map showing north, south, east, and west.
Cook Inlet
An arm of the Gulf of Alaska in south central Alaska.
Copper River Delta
Located in southeast Alaska, the Copper River Delta is considered to be the most important shorebird migratory rest stop in the Western Hemisphere. The river branches into hundreds of meandering streams creating a vast marshland that provides abundant food and good nesting sites for millions of migrating water fowl.
Cordova
A small town in Alaska located at the southeastern end of Prince William Sound in the Gulf of Alaska. The community was built on Orca Inlet, at the base of Eyak Mountain. It lies 52 air miles southeast of Valdez.
crustacean
Aquatic arthropods including lobsters, crabs, shrimps, and barnacles, characteristically having a segmented body, a hard exoskeleton, and paired, jointed limbs.
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D
driftwood
Wood drifting in the water or that has been washed ashore.
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E
earthquake
Sudden movements of the earth's crust caused by the release of stress accumulated along geologic faults or by volcanic activity.
effigy
An image or representation of a person or animal that is meant to spiritually represent or embody the essence of the spirit of the creature that it resembles. Often used like a charm to call on the help of good spirits and ward off evil spirits, an effigy is distinguished from an amulet in that they are usually larger and are more often displayed rather than worn.
elevation
The distance above or below the level of the ocean (sea level).
Eskimo
Central Yup'ik, St. Lawrence Island Yupik (Siberian Yupik), and Inupiaq people share a similar cultural background and they are often referred to as Eskimos in Alaska. The Yupik/Yup'ik people are sometimes called Western Eskimos, because they live in the westernmost part of Alaska. The term "Eastern Eskimo" refers to the Alaskan Inupiaq, Canadian Inuit, and Greenlandic Kalaallit peoples, who share a similar language and culture. However, the Inuit and Kalaallit people consider the name "Eskimo" offensive, and they prefer their own group names or collectively to be known as First Nation people.
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F
feeder
Immature adult salmon. Extensive ocean migration begins at this growth period.
fingerling
The name for developing salmon when they become 2-4 inches long. They cease to be called fingerlings when their scales develop and their gills change for living in salt water.
fish camp
A location on a river where people from a village move to a summer and fall camp to catch, smoke, and dry large amounts of fish for winter use.
floodplain
A level and usually treeless area of land bordering a river that is subject to flooding but that is normally dry.
frontier
A region just beyond or at the edge of a settled area.
fry
A salmon that is less than 5 centimeters long and less than a year old. Tiny fry gradually seek food close to the water surface and are called "swim-up fry" as they grow and become more daring. However, the majority of their time is spent in the streambed that offers them protection.
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G
glacier
A huge mass of ice formed from compacted snow slowly flowing over land in an area where snow builds up.
Gulf of Alaska
The northern part of the Pacific Ocean south of Alaska that is enclosed on the West by the Aleutian Islands and on the east by the southeast Alaska.
gut skin
A waterproof material made from the intestines or guts of animals and used to make things like clothing.
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H
harpoon
A spear-like weapon with a barbed head used in hunting marine mammals, walrus, and seals.
hue
The range of colors or shades ranging from red through yellow, green and blue, and back to red.
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I
ice jam
Formed when winter river ice breaks up in spring and moves downriver but gets stuck at a narrow point on the river or jams against an obstruction, such as a bridge piling. Then the pieces of ice pile up and form a dam, which constricts the flow of water and often causes flooding in low laying areas.
icon
An image or representation often of a sacred religious figure.
Inupiaq (singular and descriptive) / Inupiat (plural)
The name of the Alaska Native people whose territory is in north of Unalakleet to the Seward Peninsula and across the North Slope; Inupiaq is the name of the language spoken by Inupiat.
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J
Jesuit priest
A clergyman in the Catholic Church who has the authority to perform or administer various religious rites and who is concerned with teaching.
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K
kayak
A traditional kayak is a slender, watertight Eskimo boat propelled by paddles. It is made of a light wooden frame completely covered with skins except for opening(s) for the paddler(s).
krill
Small marine crustaceans that are the principal food of baleen whales.
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L
landscape
In art, a picture in a painting, photograph, or drawing whose purpose is to depict scenery.
Little Diomede Island
Little Diomede Island is situated about 50 miles below the Arctic Circle in the middle of the Bering Strait half way between Siberia and Alaska. Inupiat people have long inhabited the island because of its proximity to abundant food resources from the sea. Vitrus Bering named the island in 1728.
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M
map key
An area on a map that identifies the map title, scale of map with relative distances, symbols and colors used, and a compass rose.
Marine Mammal Protection Act
The Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) was enacted in 1972 to protect marine mammals and their products from over hunting and extinction. This protection includes such animals as walruses; polar bears; sea otters; marine otters; whales; porpoises; seals; and sea lions.
maximum
The greatest possible quantity or degree, as in highest temperature reached.
mean
A mathematical term; to find the mean is to order the numbers used from least to greatest, and then take the middlemost number. It is not the average.
migration
The relocation of a population from one region to another, often periodically or seasonal.
minimum
The least possible quantity or degree, as in lowest temperature reached.
moore
To secure a vessel with lines or an anchor so it does not drift away.
mukluk
A soft boot made of caribou skin or sealskin, and the soles are usually made from bearded (ugruk) sealskin.
mural
A very large image, such as a painting or photograph, usually a part of a wall or ceiling.
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N
Nunivak Island
Nunivak Island is found off the west coast of Alaska. Most of the people on the island are Cup'ik Eskimo living in Mekoryuk, a village of approximately 200 people. The island is mountainous in the middle. On the west side there are tall cliffs with nesting sea birds. Musk oxen thrive on the island since being reintroduced in 1936.
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O
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P
paddle
A wooden tool with a flat blade used to propel a canoe, kayak or other small boat. Unlike an oar, it is not attached to the boat.
pan-Indian art
Art that addresses themes common to Native peoples, but is not limited to the traditions of a particular Native group.
peninsula
A protrusion of land that is surrounded by water on three sides and attached to a larger mass of land.
permafrost
A layer of soil beneath the ground's surface that remains frozen throughout the year.
petroglyph
A carving or drawing chipped in rock, often of ancient origin.
pigment
A dry colored powder that when mixed with water or oil makes a colored paint.
plankton
Small or microscopic organisms, including algae, that float or drift in great numbers in fresh or salt water. They serve as food for fish and other larger animals, such as whales.
population
The number of people inhabiting a specific area.
precipitation
A measure of how much water falls in a certain area of land, usually by rain or snow.
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Q
quiver
A carrying case or sheath for arrows, spears, or harpoons.
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R
realistic
Paintings intended to look as much like real life as possible such that you would not be able to tell if you were looking at a painting or a photograph.
Russian Orthodox
An independent branch of the Eastern Orthodox Church. The early Russian traders in Kodiak and the Aleutian Islands introduced it into Alaska.
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S
sculpt
To shape stone, wood, clay or other materials with one's hands, or by cutting and carving it with a tool.
sculptor
A person who shapes, molds, or fashions, especially with artistry or precision.
sea ice
A solid layer of ice that forms in the Arctic Ocean, sometimes referred to as pack ice, the pack ice expands in winter and recedes in summer.
sealskin float
A float made by skinning a seal and plugging all holes so it does not leak air. The float is inflated with air and tied to a harpoon line. After an animal is harpooned, the sealskin float is used to prevent the animal from sinking.
shade
Gradation or degree to which a color is mixed with black.
sketch
A quickly made drawing or painting often done as a preliminary study in preparation for creating a work of art.
skin sewing
The process of sewing furs and hides into useful garments using various types of threads, needles, and techniques.
smolt
The name of a developing salmon at the stage when the gills and scales have changed in order to live in saltwater. Smolts have the distinctive silvery color for which salmon are well known.
souvenir
Something serving as a token of remembrance of a place or event, a memento.
spawning
When female fish lay eggs and male fish fertilize the eggs.
St. Lawrence Island Yupik (Siberian Yupik)
The name of the Alaska Native peoples whose territory includes St. Lawrence Island; the name of the language that is spoken in the two St. Lawrence Island villages of Gambell and Savoonga, which is nearly identical to the language spoken across the Bering Strait on the tip of the Siberian Chukchi Peninsula in Russia.
strait
A narrow channel joining two larger bodies of water.
subsistence lifeway
A way of life based on hunting and gathering activities in order to provide the necessities of life: food, clothing, shelter, and transportation.
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T
texture
The smooth and coarse appearance of a surface.
tidal wave
Properly called tsunamis, large destructive waves sent inshore by earthquakes. Despite their name, tidal waves are not caused by tides.
Toksook Bay
A Yup'ik village located on Nelson Island in the southwestern part of Alaska, just north of the mouth of the Kuskokwim River.
trapezoid
A plane, four-sided figure having two sides parallel to each other.
tributaries
Rivers or streams that flow into and feed larger streams or rivers.
tundra
A treeless area in Subarctic and Arctic regions having permanently frozen subsoil and supporting low-growing vegetation such as lichens, mosses, and stunted shrubs.
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U
umiak
A large open boat made of walrus and bearded sealskins stretched over a wooden frame.
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W
whaling club
A club used in whaling to stun a whale.
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Y
yolk sac
The small sac connected to a newborn salmon during the alevin stage of a salmon's development, which provides the tiny fish with protein, sugar, minerals, and vitamins.
Yup'ik (Central Alaskan Yup'ik)
The name of the Alaska Native people whose territory is in western central Alaska and includes the lower Kuskokwim River, Nelson Island, and the coast between the Kuskokwim River and Nelson Island; the name of the language that is spoken by the Yup'ik people
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Z
A
Aleut
The name of the Alaska Native peoples whose territory includes the Aleutian Islands, the Pribilof Islands, and the Alaska Peninsula west of Sepovak Bay; the name of the language spoken by the Aleut people. Aleut is a Russian name; the Aleut people's traditional name for themselves is Unangan.
Aleutian Islands
A chain of 78 islands in southwestern Alaska extending 1,200 miles southwest from the tip of the Alaska Peninsula.
alevin
Larval salmon that have hatched but have not yet completely absorbed their yolk sac and usually have not yet emerged from the gravel at the bottom of the river. (see yolk sac)
Alutiiq / Sugpiaq
The name for the Alaska Native people whose territory encompasses the Alaska Peninsula to Prince William Sound, including Kodiak Island; A form of the Yupik Eskimo language, which is spoken in two dialects by the Alutiiq / Sugpiaq people. Alutiiq is a Russian name; the Alutiiq people's traditional name for themselves is Sugpiaq. Currently there is an effort being made by the Alutiiq/Sugpiaq people to phase out the name Alutiiq and return to the traditional name of Sugpiaq.
amulet
A decorative figure of a spirit animal, spirit helper or spiritual symbol that is used like a charm to call upon the help of good spirits and ward off bad ones. An amulet is distinguished from an effigy in that is usually worn or carried rather than displayed.
Anchorage
The largest city in Alaska and major center of domestic and international commerce, located in Cook Inlet, south central Alaska.
annual
Yearly; by year; every year.
anonymous
Having an unknown, withheld or unacknowledged name.
anthropologist
One who studies the physical, social, and cultural development of people.
archipelago
A large group of islands.
Arctic ice pack
A large, floating expanse of broken ice masses frozen together in the Arctic Ocean.
Arctic Ocean
The waters surrounding the North Pole between North America, Europe, and Asia. This is the smallest ocean in the world, and it is mostly covered by the polar ice pack throughout the year.
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B
baleen
Fringed plates that hang from the upper jaws of baleen whales, such as the bowhead. They are designed to filter plankton from the water so the whale can eat.
Barrow
The northernmost city in the United States and the largest community of Inupiat people in the world. Barrow is the center of subsistence whaling activities on the North Slope of Alaska and the administrative center of the North Slope Borough. Point Barrow, which is just 9 miles northeast of the city, is the northernmost point in the United States. Due to how far north it is, the sun does not come above the horizon in Barrow from mid-November through late January.
Bering Land Bridge
During the last Ice Age there were several glacial periods, which exposed the continental shelf between Asia and North America. During each period there was a transfer of ocean water into glacial ice. Consequently, the sea level worldwide was lowered, which exposed the continental shelves. The last glacial period that exposed the Bering Land Bridge occurred about 20,000 years ago. It permitted the migration of plants and animals between the two continents. This area was a flat plain more than 600 miles wide north to south.
Bering Sea
A part of the Pacific Ocean between Siberia and Alaska, lying north of the Aleutian Islands and connected to the Arctic Ocean by the Bering Strait. Vitrus Bering first explored the region in the 17th century under orders by the Russian Czar to discover whether or not Russia and America were connected by land.
bidarka
This is the Russian word for kayak, a slender, watertight Eskimo boat propelled by paddles. A kayak is made of a light wooden frame completely covered with skins except for opening(s) for the paddler(s). Kayaks have one, two or three holes or cockpits for paddlers.
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C
canvas
A heavy, coarse, closely woven fabric of cotton, hemp, or flax, used for tents and sails.
cockpit
An opening in the deck of a kayak for the paddler.
compass rose
An image of a directional compass on map showing north, south, east, and west.
Cook Inlet
An arm of the Gulf of Alaska in south central Alaska.
Copper River Delta
Located in southeast Alaska, the Copper River Delta is considered to be the most important shorebird migratory rest stop in the Western Hemisphere. The river branches into hundreds of meandering streams creating a vast marshland that provides abundant food and good nesting sites for millions of migrating water fowl.
Cordova
A small town in Alaska located at the southeastern end of Prince William Sound in the Gulf of Alaska. The community was built on Orca Inlet, at the base of Eyak Mountain. It lies 52 air miles southeast of Valdez.
crustacean
Aquatic arthropods including lobsters, crabs, shrimps, and barnacles, characteristically having a segmented body, a hard exoskeleton, and paired, jointed limbs.
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D
driftwood
Wood drifting in the water or that has been washed ashore.
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E
earthquake
Sudden movements of the earth's crust caused by the release of stress accumulated along geologic faults or by volcanic activity.
effigy
An image or representation of a person or animal that is meant to spiritually represent or embody the essence of the spirit of the creature that it resembles. Often used like a charm to call on the help of good spirits and ward off evil spirits, an effigy is distinguished from an amulet in that they are usually larger and are more often displayed rather than worn.
elevation
The distance above or below the level of the ocean (sea level).
Eskimo
Central Yup'ik, St. Lawrence Island Yupik (Siberian Yupik), and Inupiaq people share a similar cultural background and they are often referred to as Eskimos in Alaska. The Yupik/Yup'ik people are sometimes called Western Eskimos, because they live in the westernmost part of Alaska. The term "Eastern Eskimo" refers to the Alaskan Inupiaq, Canadian Inuit, and Greenlandic Kalaallit peoples, who share a similar language and culture. However, the Inuit and Kalaallit people consider the name "Eskimo" offensive, and they prefer their own group names or collectively to be known as First Nation people.
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F
feeder
Immature adult salmon. Extensive ocean migration begins at this growth period.
fingerling
The name for developing salmon when they become 2-4 inches long. They cease to be called fingerlings when their scales develop and their gills change for living in salt water.
fish camp
A location on a river where people from a village move to a summer and fall camp to catch, smoke, and dry large amounts of fish for winter use.
floodplain
A level and usually treeless area of land bordering a river that is subject to flooding but that is normally dry.
frontier
A region just beyond or at the edge of a settled area.
fry
A salmon that is less than 5 centimeters long and less than a year old. Tiny fry gradually seek food close to the water surface and are called "swim-up fry" as they grow and become more daring. However, the majority of their time is spent in the streambed that offers them protection.
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G
glacier
A huge mass of ice formed from compacted snow slowly flowing over land in an area where snow builds up.
Gulf of Alaska
The northern part of the Pacific Ocean south of Alaska that is enclosed on the West by the Aleutian Islands and on the east by the southeast Alaska.
gut skin
A waterproof material made from the intestines or guts of animals and used to make things like clothing.
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H
harpoon
A spear-like weapon with a barbed head used in hunting marine mammals, walrus, and seals.
hue
The range of colors or shades ranging from red through yellow, green and blue, and back to red.
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I
ice jam
Formed when winter river ice breaks up in spring and moves downriver but gets stuck at a narrow point on the river or jams against an obstruction, such as a bridge piling. Then the pieces of ice pile up and form a dam, which constricts the flow of water and often causes flooding in low laying areas.
icon
An image or representation often of a sacred religious figure.
Inupiaq (singular and descriptive) / Inupiat (plural)
The name of the Alaska Native people whose territory is in north of Unalakleet to the Seward Peninsula and across the North Slope; Inupiaq is the name of the language spoken by Inupiat.
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J
Jesuit priest
A clergyman in the Catholic Church who has the authority to perform or administer various religious rites and who is concerned with teaching.
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K
kayak
A traditional kayak is a slender, watertight Eskimo boat propelled by paddles. It is made of a light wooden frame completely covered with skins except for opening(s) for the paddler(s).
krill
Small marine crustaceans that are the principal food of baleen whales.
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L
landscape
In art, a picture in a painting, photograph, or drawing whose purpose is to depict scenery.
Little Diomede Island
Little Diomede Island is situated about 50 miles below the Arctic Circle in the middle of the Bering Strait half way between Siberia and Alaska. Inupiat people have long inhabited the island because of its proximity to abundant food resources from the sea. Vitrus Bering named the island in 1728.
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M
map key
An area on a map that identifies the map title, scale of map with relative distances, symbols and colors used, and a compass rose.
Marine Mammal Protection Act
The Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) was enacted in 1972 to protect marine mammals and their products from over hunting and extinction. This protection includes such animals as walruses; polar bears; sea otters; marine otters; whales; porpoises; seals; and sea lions.
maximum
The greatest possible quantity or degree, as in highest temperature reached.
mean
A mathematical term; to find the mean is to order the numbers used from least to greatest, and then take the middlemost number. It is not the average.
migration
The relocation of a population from one region to another, often periodically or seasonal.
minimum
The least possible quantity or degree, as in lowest temperature reached.
moore
To secure a vessel with lines or an anchor so it does not drift away.
mukluk
A soft boot made of caribou skin or sealskin, and the soles are usually made from bearded (ugruk) sealskin.
mural
A very large image, such as a painting or photograph, usually a part of a wall or ceiling.
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N
Nunivak Island
Nunivak Island is found off the west coast of Alaska. Most of the people on the island are Cup'ik Eskimo living in Mekoryuk, a village of approximately 200 people. The island is mountainous in the middle. On the west side there are tall cliffs with nesting sea birds. Musk oxen thrive on the island since being reintroduced in 1936.
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O
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P
paddle
A wooden tool with a flat blade used to propel a canoe, kayak or other small boat. Unlike an oar, it is not attached to the boat.
pan-Indian art
Art that addresses themes common to Native peoples, but is not limited to the traditions of a particular Native group.
peninsula
A protrusion of land that is surrounded by water on three sides and attached to a larger mass of land.
permafrost
A layer of soil beneath the ground's surface that remains frozen throughout the year.
petroglyph
A carving or drawing chipped in rock, often of ancient origin.
pigment
A dry colored powder that when mixed with water or oil makes a colored paint.
plankton
Small or microscopic organisms, including algae, that float or drift in great numbers in fresh or salt water. They serve as food for fish and other larger animals, such as whales.
population
The number of people inhabiting a specific area.
precipitation
A measure of how much water falls in a certain area of land, usually by rain or snow.
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Q
quiver
A carrying case or sheath for arrows, spears, or harpoons.
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R
realistic
Paintings intended to look as much like real life as possible such that you would not be able to tell if you were looking at a painting or a photograph.
Russian Orthodox
An independent branch of the Eastern Orthodox Church. The early Russian traders in Kodiak and the Aleutian Islands introduced it into Alaska.
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S
sculpt
To shape stone, wood, clay or other materials with one's hands, or by cutting and carving it with a tool.
sculptor
A person who shapes, molds, or fashions, especially with artistry or precision.
sea ice
A solid layer of ice that forms in the Arctic Ocean, sometimes referred to as pack ice, the pack ice expands in winter and recedes in summer.
sealskin float
A float made by skinning a seal and plugging all holes so it does not leak air. The float is inflated with air and tied to a harpoon line. After an animal is harpooned, the sealskin float is used to prevent the animal from sinking.
shade
Gradation or degree to which a color is mixed with black.
sketch
A quickly made drawing or painting often done as a preliminary study in preparation for creating a work of art.
skin sewing
The process of sewing furs and hides into useful garments using various types of threads, needles, and techniques.
smolt
The name of a developing salmon at the stage when the gills and scales have changed in order to live in saltwater. Smolts have the distinctive silvery color for which salmon are well known.
souvenir
Something serving as a token of remembrance of a place or event, a memento.
spawning
When female fish lay eggs and male fish fertilize the eggs.
St. Lawrence Island Yupik (Siberian Yupik)
The name of the Alaska Native peoples whose territory includes St. Lawrence Island; the name of the language that is spoken in the two St. Lawrence Island villages of Gambell and Savoonga, which is nearly identical to the language spoken across the Bering Strait on the tip of the Siberian Chukchi Peninsula in Russia.
strait
A narrow channel joining two larger bodies of water.
subsistence lifeway
A way of life based on hunting and gathering activities in order to provide the necessities of life: food, clothing, shelter, and transportation.
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T
texture
The smooth and coarse appearance of a surface.
tidal wave
Properly called tsunamis, large destructive waves sent inshore by earthquakes. Despite their name, tidal waves are not caused by tides.
Toksook Bay
A Yup'ik village located on Nelson Island in the southwestern part of Alaska, just north of the mouth of the Kuskokwim River.
trapezoid
A plane, four-sided figure having two sides parallel to each other.
tributaries
Rivers or streams that flow into and feed larger streams or rivers.
tundra
A treeless area in Subarctic and Arctic regions having permanently frozen subsoil and supporting low-growing vegetation such as lichens, mosses, and stunted shrubs.
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U
umiak
A large open boat made of walrus and bearded sealskins stretched over a wooden frame.
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V
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W
whaling club
A club used in whaling to stun a whale.
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X
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Y
yolk sac
The small sac connected to a newborn salmon during the alevin stage of a salmon's development, which provides the tiny fish with protein, sugar, minerals, and vitamins.
Yup'ik (Central Alaskan Yup'ik)
The name of the Alaska Native people whose territory is in western central Alaska and includes the lower Kuskokwim River, Nelson Island, and the coast between the Kuskokwim River and Nelson Island; the name of the language that is spoken by the Yup'ik people
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Z
