Bun: (bun) noun. 1. Abbreviation for the Inupiaq word, bunnik, that translates to the noun daughter.
Side Note: Sometimes you don’t have to be someone’s daughter to be given this term of endearment. You may hear “bun”, “bunnik”, or “bunny” < which in my head is spelt “bunni”
Tupak (tü•puk) verb. 1. Inupiaq word that translates to the verb startle.
Side Note: Similar to katak, the verb doesn’t really have conjugations. “One time, I tupak my mom. You really tupak, eh? The dog make me tupak.”
Katak: (ku•tuk) verb. 1. Inupiaq word that translates to the verb fall.
Side Note: It may be for all conjugations, but the students use it with English endings if they “conjugate” it at all. “He kataked. It katak. He katak it. I katak.”
Uvlaalluataq: (üv•la•lō•tuk) 1. Inupiaq greeting translating to Good Morning.
Side Note: This greeting is used at the beginning of the day when the school meets to start off its day with announcements and the pledge (said in Inupiaq)
Qavvik: (ku•-vik) noun. 1. Inupiaq word meaning wolverine. The Qavvik is McQueen School’s mascot and a fierce, important part of Kivalina’s culture. Some clothes have Qavvik fur sown into them to make them warmer.
Side note: I made the mistake of asking an Elder in the village what a Qavvik was as I was being shown her coat with Qavvik paws including the nails dangling down the front…to which the person beside me responded in apologies and promises that I wouldn’t make that mistake again.
Tumbleweed Soul 