Indian languages American Indian culture Indian heritage

Cama'i (Camai)

"Cama'i" is a word of greeting in the language of the Alutiiq and Yup'ik people. You will also sometimes see the same word spelled other ways, such as Camai, Chamai, Camai'i, or Cama-i. Since these were not traditionally written languages, the spellings of Alutiiq and Yup'ik words in English sometimes vary a lot. The word is pronounced similar to chah-my or chah-mah-ee, depending on dialect.

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Here are links to our webpages about the Alutiiq and Yup'ik tribes and languages:

Alutiiq language
Yup'ik language
Alutiiq culture
Yup'ik culture
Alutiiq people
Alutiiq words
Yup'ik words
Eskimo-Aleut languages
Alaska tribes

Here are a few good books about the Alutiiq and Yup'ik:
Looking Both Ways: Heritage & Identity of the Alutiiq People
Making History: Alutiiq/Sugpiaq Life on the Alaska Peninsula
Alutiiq Dictionary

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