Alaskan Athabaskans

The Alaskan Athabascans, also called Alaskan Athapascans or Dena (Russian: атабаски Аляски, атапаски Аляски), are one of the groups of Alaska Native peoples. They speak Athabaskan languages and are part of a larger group known for their shared language and culture. These people are believed to be the original inhabitants of the interior of Alaska.

In the past, they called themselves Tinneh, which later changed to Dena. This word comes from their own language and simply means "men" or "people". It is similar to the word Dene used by Athabaskan-speaking people in Canada. The Alaskan Athabascans have a rich history and culture that continues to be important today.

Subgroups

In Alaska, the Alaskan Athabascans are the oldest group and have eleven subgroups, each identified by the language they speak. These groups include the Dena’ina, Ahtna, Deg Hit’an, Holikachuk, Koyukon, Upper Kuskokwim, Tanacross, Upper Tanana, Gwich'in, and Hän. Each group has its own special language and traditions.

Life and culture

See also: Shamanism among Alaska Natives

The Alaskan Athabascan culture centers around fishing in inland creeks and rivers, and they also gather food from hunting. Only the Dena'ina people fish along the coast near Cook Inlet. Their family ties follow the mother's side, meaning children join their mother's clan, except for some groups like the Holikachuk and Deg Hit'an.

These people have special gatherings called potlatches, which are important for their religion, social life, and sharing resources. Dogs are the only animals they kept as pets, and they played a big role in their way of life.

History

The Alaskan Athabascans are a group of people whose ancestors came from Asia. They likely started in a place called Mongolia and then crossed the Bering Strait to live in North America. Today, they are known as one of the original groups of people who lived in the interior of Alaska.

Notable Alaskan Athabascans

• George Attla was a champion sprint dog musher.
• Poldine Carlo was an American author and Athabascan elder.
• Kathleen Carlo-Kendall is a professional sculptor.
• Quinn Christopherson is an American singer-songwriter who won the 2019 Tiny Desk Contest.
• Peter Kalifornsky is an author and oral storyteller.
• Emil Notti was an American engineer, indigenous activist, and democratic politician who helped develop the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.
• John Sackett served in the Alaska House of Representatives and the Alaska Senate.
• Michael Stickman is the First Chief of the Nulato Tribal Council.
• Mary TallMountain was a poet and storyteller of mixed Scotch-Irish and Koyukon ancestry.
• F. Kay Wallis is a traditional healer and member of the Alaska House of Representatives.
• Siobhan Wescott is a physician and public health advocate who has served as director of the American Indian Health Program and is a professor of American Indian health.