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Native American Tribes and Languages of Alaska

Welcome to our Alaska State Facts section, part of an educational project designed to provide information about indigenous people in different U.S. states. Follow the links to the right of our tribal map for more information about the language, culture and history of each Alaska tribe, or scroll below the map for Alaska Indian activities including a wordsearch, fact sheets, and words from the Native American languages of Alaska. Feel free to print any of these materials out for classroom use!

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American Indians in Alaska

Did you know the name "Alaska" is an Eskimo-Aleut word? It comes from the Aleut word Alaxsxix, meaning "place the sea crashes against." The Aleuts are not the only native people of this region, however.

The original inhabitants of the area that is now Alaska included:

The Ahtna tribe

The Aleut tribe

The Aluutiq tribe

The Eyak tribe

The Gwich'in tribe

The Haida tribe

The Han tribe

The Holikachuk tribe

The Ingalik tribe (Degexit'an)

The Inupiaq (Inuit)

The Kolchan tribe

The Koyukon tribe

The Tanacross tribe

The Tanaina tribe

The Tanana tribe

The Tlingit tribe

The Tsimshian tribe

The Yup'ik tribe

There are 227 federally recognized Indian tribes in Alaska today.

Native nations are treated differently in Alaska than they are in other states. Rather than being organized into reservations at the tribe level, most Native American and Inuit communities are organized into Alaska Native villages. That is why there are so many of them-- each village is considered separately, even if it contains only 400 people (whereas for example, the Navajo Nation, with its population of 250,000, is considered as a single nation.)

Rather than list the address for each village, we are listing here the address and website of each of the twelve Alaska Native Regional Corporations, which are administrative groups of multiple villages and small tribes in the same geographical region of Alaska, as well as the names of tribes and villages covered by each Native Corporation. From there you will be able to contact any specific Native tribe or village you are in search of.

Here are the addresses of Alaska's Native Regional Corporations:

Ahtna Incorporated:
PO Box 649
Glennallen, AK 99588
http://www.ahtna-inc.com/
Members: Native Village of Cantwell, Native Village of Chistochina, Chitina Traditional Village, Native Village of Gakona, Gulkana Village, Native Village of Kluti-kaah, Native Village of Tazlina

Aleut Corporation:
4000 Old Seward Hwy, Ste. 300
Anchorage, AK 99503
http://www.aleutcorp.com/
Members: Agdaagux Tribe, Native Village of Akutan, Aleuts Community of St. Paul Island, Native Village of Atka, Native Village of Belkofski, False Pass Tribal Council, Native Village of Nelson Lagoon, Native Village of Nikolski, Native Village of Nuiqsut Pauloff Harbor, Qagun Tayagungin Tribe, St. George Island Tribe

Arctic Slope Regional Corporation:
1230 Agvik St
Barrow, AK 99723
http://www.asrc.com/
Members: Atqasuk Village, Native Village of Barrow, Inupiat Community of Arctic Slope, Kaktovik Village, Native Village of Poit Hope

Bering Straits Native Corporation:
PO Box 1008
Nome, AK 99762
http://www.beringstraits.com/
Members: Native Village of Brevig Mission, Native Village of Council, Native Village of Diomede, Native Village of Elim, Native Village of Gambell Golovin, Native Village of Koyuk, Native Village of Mary's Igloo, Nome Eskimo Community, Native Village of St. Michael, Native Village of Shaktoolik, Native Village of Shishmaref, Native Village of Solomon, Native Village of Teller, Native Village of Unalakleet, Native Village of Wales, Native Village of White Mountain

Bristol Bay Native Corporation:
800 Cordova St, Ste. 200
Anchorage, AK 99501
http://www.bbnc.net/
Members: Native Village of Aleknagik, Native Village of Chignik Bay, Native Village of Chignik Lagoon, Chignik Lake Village, Village of Clark's Point, Native Village of Dillingham, Egegik Tribal Council, Native Village of Ekuk, Ekwok Village, Igiugig Village, Village of Iliamna, Ivanof Bay Village, Kokhanok Village, Levelock Village, Village of Lower Kalskag, Manokotak Village, Naknek Native Village, Newhalen Tribe, New Stuyahok Village, Nondalton Village, Pedro Bay Village, Native Village of Perryville, Native Village of Pilot Point, Portage Creek Village, Native Village of Port Heiden, South Naknek Village Council, Traditional Village of Togiak, Twin Hills Village, Ugashik Traditional Village

Calista Corporation:
301 Calista Ct, Ste. A
Anchorage, AK 99518
http://www.calistacorp.com/
Members: Akiachak Native Community, Akiak Native Community, Village of Alakanuk, Native Village of Algaaciq, Yupiit of Andreafski Village, Village of Aniak, Asa'carsarmuit Tribe, Village of Atmautluak, Village of Chefornak, Chevak Native Village, Native Village of Chuathbaluk, Native Village of Crooked Creek, Native Village of Eek, Emmonak Village, Native Village of Georgetown, Native Village of Goodnews Bay, Native Village of Hooper Bay, Iqurmiat Tribe, Village of Kalskag, Native Village of Kasiglik, Native Village of Kipnuk, Native Village of Kongiganak, Village of Kotlik, Organized Village of Kwethluk, Native Village of Kwigillingok, Native Village of Kwinhagak, Lime Village, Village of Lower Kalskag, Native Village of Marshall, Native Village of Mekoryuk, Native Village of Nepakiak, Native Village of Napaimute, Native Village of Napaskiak, Newtok Village, Native Village of Nightmute, Native Village of Nunapitchuk, Orutsararmuit Tribe, Oscarville Tribe, Pilot Station Tribe, Native Village of Pitka's Point, Platinum Traditional Village, Village of Red Devil, Native Village of Scammon Bay, Native Village of Sheldon's Point, Village of Sleetmute, Stebbins Community Association, Native Village of Tooksack Bay, Tuluksak Native Community, Native Village of Tuntutuliak, Native Village of Tununak, Umkumiat Native Village

Chugach Alaska Corporation:
560 E. 34th Ave, Ste. 300
Anchorage, AK 99503
http://www.chugach-ak.com/
Members: Chenega Bay Tribe, Native Village of Eyak, Native Village of Nanwalek, Port Graham Village, Native Village of Tatitlek

Cook Inlet Region Incorporated:
PO Box 93330
Anchorage, AK 99509
http://www.ciri.com/
Members: Chickaloon Native Village, Eklutna Native Village, Kenaitze Indian Tribe, Knik Tribe, Ninilchik Village, Village of Salamatof, Seldovia Village, Native Village of Tyonek

Doyon Limited:
1 Doyon Place, Ste. 300
Fairbanks, AK 99701
http://www.doyon.com/
Members: Alatna Village, Allakaket Village, Anvik Village, Village of Arctic Village, Beaver Village, Birch Creek Village, Chalkyitsik Village, Circle Native Community, Village of Dot Lake, Native Village of Eagle, Evansville Vilalge, Native Village of Fort Yukon, Galena Village, Organized Village of Grayling, Healy Lake Village, Holy Cross Village, Hughes Village, Huslia Village, Village of Kaltag, Koyukok Native Village, Manley Hot Springs Village, McGrath Native Village, Native Village of Minto, Nenana Native Association, Nikolai Village, Northway Village, Nulato Village, Rampart Village, Native Village of Ruby, Shageluk Native Village, Native Village of Stevens, Takotna Village, Native Village of Tanacross, Native Village of Tanana, Telida Village, Native Village of Tetlin, Native Village of Venetie

Koniag Incorporated:
4300 B St., Ste. 407
Anchorage, AK 99503
http://www.koniag.com/
Members: Native Village of Karluk, Native Village of Larsen Bay, Village of Old Harbor, Native Village of Ouzinkie, Native Village of Port Lions, Shoonaq' Tribe of Kodiak

Nana Regional Corporation:
PO Box 49
Kotzebue, AK 99752
http://www.nana.com/
Members: Native Village of Ambler, Native Village of Buckland, Native Village of Deering, Native Village of Kiana, Native Village of Kivalina, Native Village of Kobuk, Native Village of Kotzebue, Native Village of Noatak, Noorvik Native Community, Native Village of Selawik, Native Village of Shungnak

Sealaska Corporation:
One Sealaska Plaza, Ste. 400
Juneau, AK 99801
http://www.sealaska.com/
Members: Angoon Community Association, Aukquan Traditional Council, Craig Community Association, Chilkat Indian Village, Hydaburg Cooperative Association, Village of Kake, Village of Kasaan, Ketchikan Indian Corporation, Klawock Cooperative Association, Kluckwan Metlakatla, Petersburg Indian Association, Native Village of Saxman, Sitka Tribe, Skagway Tribe, Wrangell Cooperative Association, Yakutat Tlingit Tribe

Teaching and learning activities about Alaska Indians:

Feel free to print these out to use at school!

Alaska Tribes Word Search: Printable puzzle hiding the names of Alaska's Indian tribes.

Alaska Language Greetings: Learn to say "hello" in several Native Alaska languages.

Alaska Native Animals: Learn the Native American names of Alaska animals.

Alaska Indian Facts for Kids: Answers to frequently asked questions about the Native tribes of Alaska for school reports.
We currently have pages for the Haida, Tlingit, Gwich'in, Tanaina, Tsimshian, Yup'ik, Alutiiq and Aleur tribes.

Recommended books about Alaska Native Americans
(Our organization earns a commission from any book bought through these links)

Children of the Midnight Sun: Charming book illuminating Alaska Native culture through the lives of eight Native children.

Alaska Native Ways: What the Elders Have Taught Us: Illustrated book exploring ten Alaskan Indian and Inuit cultures.

Alaska Native Americans: Introducing Alaska's Native American history and culture to kids.

Our Voices: Native Stories of Alaska and the Yukon: Oral histories of the Northern Canadian and Alaskan Indians and Inuits.

Authentic Alaska: Native Writers (American Indian Lives): Essays on Alaska history and traditional life by Native authors.

Two Old Women: An Alaska Legend of Betrayal, Courage and Survival: Fascinating novel by an Alaskan Athabaskan author.

Blonde Indian: An Alaska Native Memoir (Sun Tracks): Autobiography of a mixed-race woman from the Alaska Tlingit tribe.

Birth and Rebirth on an Alaskan Island: The Life of an Alutiiq Healer: Biography of an Alaska Native woman.

The Raven and the Totem: Traditional Alaska Native Myths and Tales: Collection of legends from Alaska Native tribes.

Growing Up Native in Alaska: Series of interviews about Native Alaska in the past and present.

Alaska Native Art: Tradition, Innovation, Continuity: Coffee-table book of arts and crafts of the Inuit and Indian people of Alaska.

Indian Baskets of the Pacific Northwest and Alaska: Art book with many photographs of Alaska Indian baskets and totems.

The Native People of Alaska: Anthropology book about the Inuit and Indian tribes of Alaska.

Making History: Alutiiq/Sugpiaq Life on the Alaska Peninsula: Ethnography of an Alaska Native tribe.

Raven Tells Stories: Anthology of Native Alaskan writing.

Alaska Native Tribal and Community Websites:

Alaska Federation of Natives:
Anchorage-based Native organization representing American Indians and Inuit in Alaska.

Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska:
Tribal government representing Alaska's Tlingit and Haida Indians.

Alaska Native Brotherhood and Sisterhood:
Nonprofit organization working to promote Native rights and cultural preservation.

Alaska Native Justice Center:
Organization providing legal representation and advocacy for Alaska Natives.

Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium:

Alaska Native Hospital of Anchorage::
Offering medical and social services to Alaska's Native population.

Other resources about Inuit and Native American history, culture and society in Alaska state:

Alaska Native Cultures:
Maps and information about Alaska Indians and Inuit from the Alaska Native Heritage Center.

Alaska Native Knowledge Network:
Home page of a project compiling Alaska Inuit and Indian cultural resources.

Alaskool:
Online materials about Alaska Native history, education and cultures.

Alaska Native Ethnobotany:
Information on the traditional uses of plants in the Alaska tribes.

Access Genealogy Alaska:
Historical profiles and ancestry links for American Indian tribes native to Alaska.

Alaska Natives:
Wikipedia article including photographs and information about Alaska Native corporations, tribes and villages.

Alaska Cultural Objects:
Museum exhibit with photos of Alaska Native clothing, tools, and other artifacts.

Earth Houses, Plank Houses, and Igloos:
Picture gallery showing Alaska Indian and Inuit homes.

Alaska Native Arts Foundation:
Alaska Native American tribal artwork including jewelry, masks, baskets, decorative clothing, and totem poles.

Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act Resources

American Indian and Alaska Native Tribal Government Policy:
Articles on government laws and treaties related to Alaska Native people.

Indians 101: The Arctic Culture Area:
Article on the history and artistic traditions of the tribes of Alaska and Northern Canada.

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Back to our Indian tribes map
Back to Native American Indians for kids

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