Alaska Native History

A collection of vocabulary flashcards based on Alaska Native history, covering socio-cultural aspects, geography, and language of the Indigenous peoples of Alaska.

Subcontinent

Alaska is classified as a subcontinent, one-fifth the size of the U.S., spanning 586,000 sq miles.

Geographic Regions

Alaska consists of six geographic regions: Southeast, Southcentral, Pacific Rim, Southwest, Bering Sea coast, Interior, and Arctic.

Denali

The largest mountain in North America, standing at 21,000 feet.

Tribes

Alaska is home to 231 federally recognized tribes as of 2022, with nearly 50% of all tribes in the United States located in Alaska.

Indigenous Languages

Twenty different languages are spoken by Alaska Natives, belonging to two major language families: Inuit-Yupik-Aleut and Athabascan-Eyak-Tlingit.

Yup’ik Worldview

Yup’ik people perceive their environment as infused with spirits, emphasizing harmony with nature and the acknowledgment of a Creative Force.

Cultural Groups

Alaska includes eight broad cultural groups: Inupiaq, Dene/Athabascan, Yup’ik, Siberian Yupik, Unangax/Aleut, Sugpiaq/Alutiiq, Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian.

ANCSA

Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, which allocated 44 million acres and $900 million to Alaska Natives in 1971.

Subsistence Living

A lifestyle where Native peoples maintain a close relationship with their natural resources, which is integral to their culture and legal traditions.

Aleut/Unangan

Indigenous peoples of the Aleutian Islands, historically subjected to Russian colonization.

Tlingit, Haida, & Tsimshian

Rainforest peoples with different languages and cultural practices, united by their environment.

Elders' Legacy

Alaska Natives honor their ancestors through shared stories, cultural practices, and the preservation of languages.

Medical Missionaries

Missionaries who provided medical help to Indigenous communities in Alaska, often amid disease epidemics.

Cultural Renaissance

A revival of traditional cultural practices and expressions among Alaska Native communities, particularly in dance and music.

Colonial Impact

Colonialism from both Russian and American periods has greatly affected the lifestyles, cultures, and populations of Alaska Native groups.

Chukchi Sea

A body of water located between Alaska and Chukotka, Russia, significant for Indigenous trade and cultural exchange.