tukahdutetun
tukahdutetun is a term used in the Central Yupik language of Alaska to refer to a traditional seasonal burial ground that is also believed to have protective spiritual significance. The word is derived from the root *tuka*, meaning “to sit” or “to remain,” combined with *hdu* (a diminutive suffix) and the locative suffix *-tun*, indicating a place or time. Historically, these sites were designated by local clan elders for the interment of deceased community members during the late winter months, when the land was considered most balmy and the sea ice provided a natural barrier against stray animals.
In addition to its funerary function, tukahdutetun sites are integrated into seasonal oral traditions. Inuit elders
Today, some Tukahdutetun sites have been incorporated into protected lands, with ongoing collaboration between the U.S.