Alaska Natives

General Information

Though there is no single definition of Alaska Native, this term is typically used to describe the indigenous people of what is now the state of Alaska. Specifically, Alaska Natives are generally thought to include Eskimo, Indian, and Aleutian peoples. Nearly half of all Alaska Natives are Eskimo, which includes the Inupiat, Yup'ik, and Cup'ik peoples. About one-third of Alaska Natives are Indians, which encompasses the Athabascan, Eyak, Tlingit, Tsimshian, and Haida peoples. Finally, the Aleut people constitute approximately 15% of Alaska Natives.

The Alaska Native population is geographically dispersed throughout the state of Alaska, which is approximately one-fifth the size of the continental United States. In general, the majority of Alaska Natives reside outside the larger Alaska cities in villages of 2,500 people or fewer. Anchorage, the most populated city in the state, is home to approximately 14,000 Alaska Natives. Altogether, Alaska Native groups compose approximately 16% of the state's population. Not only are there geographical differences; linguistic and cultural differences can also be found among the Alaska Native peoples. For example, Alaska Natives speak 20 different languages, live in all major areas of Alaska, and vary in degrees of acculturation.

The Inupiaq live in the northern and northwestern region of Alaska, where they still live a subsistence lifestyle. Two major dialects, which resemble the dialects of Canadian and Greenlandic Eskimos, are spoken by the Inupiaq. The Inupiaq believe in the reincarnation of both animal and human spirits. This belief is often expressed in the ceremonial treatment of animals that are killed during a hunt and the naming of children after deceased relatives.

Distinguishable by their different dialects, the Yup'ik and Cup'ik are concentrated in southwestern Alaska. Also hunters and gatherers, the Yup'ik and [Page 31]Cup'ik were once a mobile people following the migration of the game they hunted. Historically, social hierarchies among the Yup'ik and Cup'ik were based on gender, and men and women often lived in separate dwellings. Elders played an important role in the socialization of younger members of the group and were responsible for passing on cultural beliefs through storytelling.

Historically, the Athabascan people were concentrated around river ways in the Alaskan interior (central Alaska), where they would hunt, fish, and trap. Today, Athabascans live throughout the state of Alaska. Eleven languages are spoken by the Athabascan people. Although there are exceptions, the majority of Athabascan clans follow a matrilineal social structure. In the past, this matrilineal system influenced hunting practices, living arrangements, and the socialization of children. Among the many values the Athabascan people hold, sharing and respect for all living things are especially important.

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