The native peoples of Unalakleet utilize three different dialects of a regional language, called Malimiut, Unaliq and Qawiaraq.

To speak the language is a great way to learn the language.  Irene Katchatag and her son, Sheldon, worked tirelessly to begin the process of preserving one of the dialects.  It is a beginning, but one that would fade and be lost if we do not work together to preserve our language and tradition.

In phase II of the project, Willa Towarak Eckenweiler worked tirelessly with her mother Guerie Towarak to document 15 pages of conversational Inupiaq (both Malimiut and Qawairaq).  Assistance was obtained from University of Alaska, Fairbanks Professor Larry Kaplan.  Please note the a sample of the translators’ work is given below and that both languages (dialects) use the same phrase when not denoted with an (M) for Malimuit and (Q) for Qawairaq.

Greetings
1. How are you?  Qanuqitpit?
2. I am fine.  (M)Illuaqtunga.  (Q)Nakurunga.
3. How about you?  Illvit aa’siin?
4. I’m fine, too.  (M)Illuaqtunga tauq.
5. Are you fine?  (M)Illuaqpi’it?
I’m not good.  Illuangillanga.
6. He is fine.  (M)Illuaqtuq.
7. We are fine.  Illuaqtu’ut.
8. We are all fine.  Illug’gata illuaqtu’ut.
9. You are fine.  Illuaqtusi.
10. You be good.  Illuagumautin.
11. You be good.  Illuagumausi.

People
1. Who is this?  Kitu’uva una? (Which UNKNOWN person)
Kina’una?  (‘Which’ of the people I know)
2. Who is this person?  Kitu’uva una? (UNKNOWN person)
Kina’una? (‘Which’ of the people I know)
3. This is a man.  Angutauruq una.
4. This is a woman.  Agnauruq una.
5. This is a boy.  Angutai’yauruq una.
6. This is a girl.  Agnai’yauruq una.
7. This is a child.  Miklairauruq una.
8. This is a baby.  Ilil’ga’aguruq una.