Alaska Official State Vacation Planner - 2024
Alaska Native Culture
2023-09-28 08:58:23
FIRST PEOPLE OF THIS LAND
With more than 10,000 years of human history, Alaska Native Peoples have lived, hunted, and gathered on Alaska land since long before it became the 49th state.
Alaska is home to 229 federally and state recognized tribes—the largest number in the United States—making up 15% of the state’s population. With over 20 distinct languages and 300 different dialects, Alaska Native people live in villages and cities large and small across all five regions. In general, there are five cultural groups of Alaska Native people identified by region:
Five Cultural Groups
● Iñupiat & St. Lawrence Island Yupik located in the Arctic Region
● Athabascan in Southcentral, Interior, and Arctic Alaska
● Yup’ik & Cup’ik in Southwest Alaska
● Unangax & Sugpiaq in Southwest and Southcentral Alaska
● Eyak, Haida, Tsimshian, & Tlingit in the Inside Passage
STATEWIDE INFLUENCE
Both present-day Alaska and our history are shaped by the First Peoples of this land. From diverse art forms, stories, and place names to distinct values, customs, and traditions, you will find Alaska Native culture interwoven across the entire state.
With common threads of community, heritage, and a deep connection to the land, many of these living cultures continue to practice traditional and subsistence lifestyles based on customary and time-honored practices. Experiencing the Indigenous Peoples’ way of life remains high on the list for many visitors, and it’s easy to see why.
IMMERSE YOURSELF IN ALASKA NATIVE CULTURE
As you visit Alaska, we greatly encourage you to explore Alaska’s history and living culture by immersing yourself in Alaska Native cultural centers, tours, and events.
Every one of our eight national parks offers an incredible glimpse into a millennia of living history. After all, Alaska land is Indigenous land. From song and dance performances and storytelling to archeological and cultural exhibits, each park showcases Alaska Native heritage sites or experiences particular to the original inhabitants of the land.
A wide range of cultural centers, museums, and heritage sites can also be found throughout the state. The Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage offers one of the most in-depth cultural immersions in the state. Here, you can get up close with traditional dwellings and art; learn about distinct dialects, groups, and traditions through detailed exhibits; and enjoy tours and live performances and demonstrations.
Cultural tours statewide feature storytelling, song, and dance performances, along with demonstrations of creative art forms like carving. Alaska Native artists share their traditions and skill through authentic artwork, jewelry, and other crafts that can be purchased at local markets, events, and shops.
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