American Indian language Indian people Tribal genealogy

Nigilax

Nigilax is a type of Aleut boat, larger, slower, and stabler than the more commonly used kayak. Unlike kayaks, nigilax boats had an open top and could be used for transporting large objects, families, and so on. In particular, since it was considered taboo for women to ride in kayaks, the nigilax was the only way for Aleut women to travel by boat. You will also sometimes see the same word spelled nigilaq. Nigilax are also sometimes referred to by the Inuit name for similar open watercraft, umiaq.

Sponsored Links

Here are links to our webpages about the Aleut tribe and language:

Aleut language
The Aleut tribe
Aleutian people
Aleut language words
Aleut orthography
Eskimo-Aleut language group
Native people of Alaska

Here are a few good books about the Aleuts:
Aleut Identities: Tradition and Modernity
Aleut Dictionary
Aleut Tales and Narratives

Back to our Native American encyclopedia

Would you like to help support our organization's work with endangered Native languages?