by Sue Harrison
DZUUGGI (Ahtna Athabascan) A favored child who receives special training, especially in oral traditions, from infancy. (The dz takes the sound of the final ds in the English word leads. The uu sounds like the ui in the English word fruit. The Ahtna double gg has no English equivalent. It is very guttural and pronounced with the back of the tongue held against the soft palate. The i has a short i sound as in the English word sir. The accent is on the first syllable.)
GGUZAAKK (Koyukon Athabascan) A thrush, Hylocichla minima, H. ustulata and H. guttata. These birds sing an intricately beautiful song that the Koyukon people traditionally believe to indicate the presence of an unknown person or spirit. (The double gg has no English equivalent. It is very guttural and pronounced with the back of the tongue held against the soft palate. The u sounds similar to the oo in the English word book. The z is similar in sound to zh, or like the s in treasure. The aa carries an aw sound. The kk is a very hard c sound.)
GHADEN (Ahtna Athabascan) Another person. (The Ahtna gh has no English equivalent. It closely resembles the French r. The a sounds like the English vowel u in the word but. The Ahtna d is pronounced with the tongue tip touching the backs of the top front teeth. It carries almost a t sound. The e carries a short sound like the e in the English word set. The Ahtna n sounds like the English n.)
GHELI (Ahtna Athabascan) True, good. (The Ahtna gh has no English equivalent. It closely resembles the French r. The e carries a short sound like the e in the English word set. The Ahtna l sounds like the l’s in the English word call. The i is like the i in the English word sit.)
’IH (Ahtna Athabascan) Exclamation of amazement made by a listener. (The apostrophe denotes an initial glottal stop. When a word begins with a vowel preceded by a glottal stop, it takes on a quick, crisp beginning with a burst of air forced quickly through the vocal cords to produce the vowel sound. The i takes on a short i sound as in the English word sit. The h is a voiceless glottal fricative.
IITIKAALUX (Atkan Aleut) Cow parsnip, wild celery. See the pharmacognosia. (The ii is pronounced like a long e. The t and l are much like their corresponding English letters. The single i and u are short, and the aa carries a long a sound. The k is a guttural English k. The x is properly written as x, and is a voiceless uvular fricative. Accent on the penult.)
IQYAX (Aleut) A skin-covered, wooden-framed boat. A kayak. (The two vowels are short. The q is like a harsh English k, the y much like an English y, and the final x a voiceless velar fricative. Accent the first syllable.)
KOLDZE’ NIHWDELNEN (Ahtna Athabascan) Nothing remained. (The k has no English equivalent. It is similar to the Aleut x and is pronounced in the back of the throat with a very harsh, guttural sound. The o carries a short sound similar to the o in the English word for. The l’s are pronounced like the l’s in the English word call. The Ahtna dz is pronounced like the ds in the English word lads. The e’s in both words carry a short sound like the e in the English word set, and the apostrophe denotes a glottal stop. The Athabascan n is similar to the English n. The i carries a short sound like the i in the English word sit. The hw is a voiceless labialized glottal fricative like the Athabascan h, but the lips should be rounded as in pronouncing the English word hoe. The d is pronounced with the tongue tip touching the backs of the top front teeth. It carries almost a t sound.)
K’OS (Ahtna Athabascan) Cloud. (The Ahtna k has no English equivalent. It is similar to the Aleut x and is pronounced in the back of the throat with a very harsh, guttural sound. The apostrophe denotes a glottal stop. The o carries a short sound similar to the o in the English word for. The Ahtna s is pronounced almost like an English sh.)
LIGIGE’ (Ahtna Athabascan) The soapberry or dog berry, Shepherdia canadensis. (See Pharmacognosia.) (The L is properly written Ł, is voiceless, and has no corresponding sound in English. The tip of the tongue is held on the palate just behind the front teeth and breath released so as to push air off both sides of the tongue. The i has a short i sound like in the English word sit. The single g corresponds most closely to the English k and is pronounced in the back of the throat, with the final e pronounced like the e in set. The final apostrophe denotes a glottal stop. Accent on the final syllable.)
NAAX (Ahtna Athabascan) Command given to a dog—“Go!” or “Proceed!” (The Ahtna n sounds like the English n. The aa carries an aw sound. The Athabascan x is a voiceless velular fricative.)
NAE’ (Ahtna Athabascan) Yes. (The Ahtna n sounds like an English n. The ae acts as a diphthong and takes on the a sound in the English word fad. The apostrophe represents a glottal stop.)
NUHU’ANH (Koyukon Athabascan) (The n’s sound like the English n. The u’s carry the sound of the o’s in the English word cook. The h’s are similar to the h in the English word help. The apostrophe denotes a glottal stop. The a sounds like the English vowel u in the word but.)
QUNG (Aleut) Hump, humpback. (The initial q is like a harsh English k. The u is short, and the digraph ng is nasal, pronounced much like the ng in the English word gong.)
SAEL (Ahtna Athabascan) Container made of bark. (The Ahtna s is pronounced almost like an English sh. The diphthong ae carries a sound similar to the a in bat or at.) The L is properly written Ł, is voiceless, and has no corresponding sound in English. The tip of the tongue is held on the palate just behind the front teeth and breath released so as to push air off both sides of the tongue.)
SAX (Aleut) A long, hoodless parka made of feathered birdskins. (The s is pronounced like a slightly lisped English s; a carries a short vowel sound. The x is a voiceless velar fricative.)
SOK (Ahtna Athabascan) Raven call. (The Ahtna s is almost like the English sh. The Ahtna o is like the o in the English word for. The k is a guttural English k.)
TIKAANI (Ahtna Athabascan) Wolf. (The Ahtna t is much like the English t, and i has a short i sound as in the English word sit. The Ahtna k has no English equivalent. It is similar to the Aleut x and is pronounced in the back of the throat with a very harsh, guttural sound. The aa carries an aw sound, and the n is similar to the English n. The kaan receives the accent.)
TIKIYAASDE (Ahtna Athabascan) Menstruation hut. (The t is much like the English t. The i has a short i sound as in the English word sit. The Ahtna k has no English equivalent. It is similar to the Aleut x and is pronounced in the back of the throat with a very harsh, guttural sound. The Ahtna y is pronounced like the y in the English word you. The aa carries an aw sound; the Ahtna s is pronounced almost like an English sh. The Ahtna d is pronounced with the tongue tip touching the backs of the top front teeth. It carries almost a t sound. The e carries a short sound like the e in the English word set.)
TSAANI (Ahtna Athabascan) Grizzly bear, Ursus arctos. (T’s takes a sound similar to the ts in sets. The double aa carries an aw sound; the n is pronounced like the English n and the i has a short i sound as in the English word sit. The first syllable is accented.)
TUXAKUXTXIN HI (Aleut) Do you hear? (The t’s take on a nearly th sound (unaspirated postdental stop). The first u carries a short u sound; the second carries a short o sound. The first and third x’s are voiceless velar fricatives; the second x, properly written as x, is a voiceless uvular fricative. The a is a short a. The k is a velar unaspirated stop. Both i’s carry the short i sound, and the n, because of the antecedent i, is a strong palatalized nasal. The h is nearly a glottal stop, merely an aspiration prior to the pronunciation of the vowel that follows.)
ULAX (Aleut) A semisubterranean dwelling raftered with driftwood and covered with thatching and sod. (Pronounced “oo-lax,” with the accent on the first syllable. The a carries a short vowel sound, and the final x is a voiceless velar fricative. Plural: ULAS or ULAM.)
UNANGAX UTING (Aleut) I am Aleut. (The initial u takes on a y sound. The second u carries a short u sound. The first n is quite nasal, and the ng’s are voiced velar nasals, slightly stronger than the English rig. The a’s carry a short a sound. The x, properly written as x, is a voiceless uvular fricative. The i carries a short i sound.)
XOS COGH (Ahtna Athabascan) Devil’s club, literally “big thistle” or “big thorn,” Echinopanax horridum. (See Pharmacognosia.) (The x is a voiceless velar fricative. The Ahtna o is like the o in the English word for. The s is similar to the English sh, and the c sounds like an English k. The Ahtna gh has no English equivalent. It closely resembles the French r.)
YAA (Ahtna Athabascan) Sky. (The Ahtna y is pronounced like the y in the English word you. The aa carries an aw sound.)
YAYKAAS (Ahtna Athabascan) Literally, “flashing sky.” The aurora borealis. (The Ahtna y is pronounced like the y in the English word you. The Ahtna k has no English equivalent. It is similar to the Aleut x and is pronounced in the back of the throat with a very harsh, guttural sound. The a is like the u in the English word but. The aa carries an aw sound, and the s is similar to the English sh. The last syllable receives the accent.)
YEHL (Tlingit) Raven. (A similar pronunciation to the English word yell.)
The words in this glossary are defined and listed according to their use in Cry of the Wind. Spellings, pronunciations and words in the Aleut language are used as per their standardization in the Aleut Dictionary, Unangam Tunudgusii, compiled by Knut Bergsland. Spellings, pronunciations and words in the Ahtna Athabascan language are used as per their standardization in the Ahtna Athabascan Dictionary, compiled and edited by James Kari. Both dictionaries are published by the Alaska Native Language Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks.
Pharmacognosia
PLANTS LISTED IN THIS pharmacognosia are not cited in recommendation for use, but only as a supplement to the novel. Many poisonous plants resemble helpful plants, and even some of the most benign can be harmful if used in excess. The wisest way to harvest wild vegetation for use as medicine, food or dyes is in the company of an expert. Plants are listed in alphabetical order according to the names used in Cry of the Wind.
ALDER, Alnus crispa: A small tree with grayish bark. Medium green leaves have toothed edges, rounded bases and pointed tops. Flower clusters resemble miniature pinecones. The cambium or inner layer of bark is dried (fresh bark will irritate the stomach) and used to make tea said to reduce high fever. It is also used as an astringent and a gargle for sore throats. The bark is used to make brown dye.
AQAMDAX: See Cloudberry, below.
BALSAM POPLAR (cottonwood), Populus balsamifera: A tree of the willow family that grows from the Alaska panhandle region to the Arctic in moist, gravelly soils. It attains heights of up to seventy feet. Leaves are smooth, ovate and slightly toothed, a dark green above and pale underneath. The gray bark becomes thick and ridged as the tree ages. Spring catkins are rich in vitamin C. Like willow, balsam poplar inner bark contains salicin (aspirin), and steeped in hot water is a good gargle for sore throats. The bark, ground and applied to sores, is said to dry seepage. The root—steeped, not boiled—taken as a tea, was used by some Native peoples in an effort to prevent premature birth. The buds are used as an expectorant.
BANEBERRY, Actaea rubra: The baneberry is the only deadly toxic berry native to Alaska. It is a vigorous plant that grows in southeastern and coastal Alaska north to the Yukon River area. It attains heights of up to four feet, though two to three feet is normal. Leaves are elongate, dentate and compound; delicate white flowers grow in ball-like clusters. Berries are red or white with a characteristic black dot. Warning: All portions of the baneberry are poisonous, and ingestion will cause pain and bloody diarrhea. Death may result due to paralysis of the respiratory system and/or cardiac arrest. Do not even touch these plants!
BEARBERRY (ptarmigan berry), Arctostaphylos alpina, Arctostaphylos rubra: A low, ground-hugging shrub that forms thick mats. Berries are black (A. al-pina) or red (A. rubra) and edible, but quite tasteless. A. rubra grows in lower altitudes. The foliage of both plants turns a brilliant scarlet in autumn.
BEDSTRAW: See Goose Grass, below.
CARIBOU LEAVES (wormwood, silverleaf), Artemisia tilesii: This perennial plant attains a height of two to three feet on a single stem. The hairy, lobed leaves are silver underneath and a darker green on top. A spike of small clustered flowers grows at the top of the stem in late summer. Fresh leaves are used to make a tea that is said to purify the blood and stop internal bleeding, and to wash cuts and sore eyes. The leaves are heated and layered over arthritic joints to ease pain. Caution: caribou leaves may be toxic in large doses.
CLOUDBERRY (salmonberry), Rubus chamaemorus: Not to be confused with the larger, shrublike salmonberry, R. spectabilis, this small plant grows to about six inches in height and bears a single white flower and a salmon-colored berry shaped like a raspberry. The green leaves are serrated and have five main lobes. The berries are edible but not as flavorful as raspberries, and are high in vitamin C. The juice from the berries is said to be a remedy for hives.
CRAMPBARK: See Highbush Cranberry, below.
DOG FENNEL (wild chamomile, pineapple weed), Matricaria matricariodes: This small (three- to twelve-inch) plant thrives in all but the northernmost part of Alaska. The leaves are delicate and feathery; rayless domed yellow flowers, usually less than a half inch across, emit a pineapple fragrance when crushed. A tea made of flowers (and foliage, if desired) is soothing and is said to release tension and promote sleep. Aleuts drank dog fennel tea to ease gas pains. Caution: in some individuals, large amounts of the tea may cause nausea or vomiting. Those with sensitive skin may notice minor skin irritation after picking or handling the herb.
FIREWEED (wild asparagus), Epilobium angustifolium: Fireweed grows throughout Alaska and northern North America. Plants grow upright to a height of three to five feet and end in a spikelike flower cluster. Each flower has four petals, which bloom from the bottom of the stalk up during midsummer to late summer. Colors vary from a deep and brilliant red-pink to nearly white. Leaves are willowlike: long and narrow, and medium green in color. Early spring shoots (high in vitamins A and C) may be harvested prior to development of the leaves without harm to the plant. (Harvesting the white stem below the soil level actually promotes plant growth.) The tip of the stem should be discarded due to the disagreeable taste; the rest can be steamed and eaten like asparagus. Leaves should be harvested before flowers bloom to add to soups as seasoning. Flowers are often used in salads and also make good jelly. Fireweed leaves steeped for tea are said to settle stomachaches. Salves made from roots are said to draw out infection.
GOOSEFOOT (lamb’s quarter, pigweed), Chenopodium album: Soft goose-foot-shaped leaves grow in an alternating pattern from stems that average one to three feet in height (though these can grow to ten feet). If grown domestically, the plant can be difficult to contain due to effusive self-seeding. Greens, good in salads, are high in vitamins A and C, and the B complex. Tea decoctions are used as a wash for sores inside the mouth. Leaves are used as a poultice for wounds and rheumatism. Caution: plants contain oxalic acid and when eaten in extremely large amounts might cause kidney damage.
GOOSE GRASS (northern bedstraw), Galium boreale: The narrow leaves grow in groups of four under the fragrant white flower sprays. Young plants warmed (not boiled) in hot water and placed on external wounds are said to help clot the blood. The dried plant, made into a salve with softened fat, was used to treat external skin irritations. Teas (steeped, not boiled) made of young leaves, seeds or roots may be diuretic. Roots produce a purplish dye.
HIGHBUSH CRANBERRY (crampbark, mooseberry), Viburnum edule: This erect but scraggly bush grows throughout Alaska from the Alaska Peninsula to the Brooks Range. Its lobed leaves are shaped somewhat like maple leaves, grow opposite one another and are coarsely toothed. The average height of the highbush cranberry is about four to six feet, though they sometimes reach ten feet. Five-petaled white flowers grow in flat clusters and mature into flavorful but bitter red berries in August and September. (A frost sweetens the berries considerably.) Berries are high in vitamin C and make tasty jelly. The inner bark, boiled into tea, is used as a gargle for sore throats and colds. Highbush cranberry bark
contains glucoside vibumine, a muscle relaxant. Bark made into tea decoctions is used to relieve menstrual and stomach cramps, and is said to be effective on infected skin abrasions.
IITIKAALUX (cow parsnip, wild celery), Heracleum lanatum: A thick-stemmed, hearty plant that grows to nine feet in height. The coarse, dark leaves have three main lobes with serrated edges. It is also known by the Russian name poochki or putchki. Stems and leaf stalks taste like a spicy celery but must be peeled before eating because the outer layer is a skin irritant. White flowers grow in inverted bowl-shaped clusters at the tops of the plants. Roots are also edible, and leaves were dried to flavor soups and stews. The root was chewed raw to ease sore throats and was heated and a section pushed into a painful tooth to deaden root pain. Caution: gloves should be worn when harvesting. Iitikaalux is similar in appearance to poisonous water hemlock.
LIGIGE’ (soapberry or dog berry), Shepherdia canadensis: A shrub that grows to six feet in height with smooth, round-tipped, dark green leaves. The orange-colored berries ripen in July and are edible but bitter. They foam like soap when beaten.
LUNGWORT (chiming bells), Mertensia paniculata: Two- to three-foot plants sport hairy, elongated ovate leaves that grow opposite one another on the stem. Small groups of delicate, purplish, bell-like flowers cluster at the ends of short drooping stems. Flowers and leaves are said to be good added to teas. Leaves are better picked before the plants flower. The plant has supposedly been used to relieve asthma and other types of lung congestion.
MARSH MARIGOLD (cowslip, meadowbright), Caltha palustris: A short plant (about a foot tall) that thrives in marshy areas. Arching stems grow from a central cluster, and leaves are large (up to six or seven inches across), rounded and roughly kidney shaped. Each flower has five rounded petals and is bright yellow. They range throughout Alaska. The marsh marigold is used as an expectorant and is thought to loosen lung and bronchial mucus. Caution: marsh marigold contains glucoside protoanemonin, a toxin that can be destroyed by boiling. Greens should be used only after boiling twice. Daily use can cause damage to kidneys. Those with sensitive skin may experience a contact dermatitis after handling the plants. Please note that marsh marigold looks similar to wild calla, which is considered poisonous. Both plants grow in similar habitats.
