Alaska Native Culture

Alaska Native Languages

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 14:27:29 +0000

There are 20 distinct Alaska Native languages spoken throughout the state, which also vary linguistically with 300 different dialects. The 20 languages descend from four official language families: the Inuit-Yupik-Unangan; Na-Dené (Athabascan, Eyak, Tlingit); Haida; and Tsimshian.

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Subsistence Living

Samantha Phillips Tlingit & Mary Goddard Tlingit — Thu, 28 Sep 2023 14:23:54 +0000

Alaska Natives believe there is a strong connection between what we eat and where we live. Stewarding their ancestral lands, Alaska Natives gather bounty from their environment to provide sustenance for their people—both physically and spiritually.

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Song & Dance

Samantha Phillips Tlingit — Thu, 28 Sep 2023 14:21:13 +0000

As Alaska Natives, we are woven together by practicing our traditional songs and dances, which are a way of preserving our history, holding great significance for our cultures and communities. Our performances encompass a variety of styles, each rooted in our own heritage and passed down through generations.

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Practicing Alaska Native Values

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 14:20:44 +0000

Alaska Native Peoples, the First Peoples of the lands we refer to as Alaska, have a set of Values passed down from generation to generation, beliefs we have held since time immemorial. Alaska Native values are not just relics of the past. They walk with us, are with us today, and will be with those Alaska Native Peoples who come after us. Below are some examples of Alaska Native values to live by when traveling throughout Alaska.

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WELCOME TO THE GREAT LAND

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 12:59:38 +0000

We are able to share Alaska’s wonders with you because of the stewardship of the Alaska Native Peoples, who have lived here since time immemorial.

We are grateful to live, work, and play on the traditional lands of our Alaska Native neighbors. It’s important to us to pay our respects while offering to build mutual understanding across cultures.

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Traveler’s Etiquette

Mary Goddard Tlingit — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 12:57:42 +0000

Mindful travel means understanding and respecting the local way of doing things. It helps us protect our way of life and perpetuate our culture for future generations. Here are a few rules to follow when visiting Alaska:

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Games of Agility & Mobility

Samantha Phillips Tlingit — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 12:55:23 +0000

Strength and resilience are essential to surviving Alaska’s harsh elements. Traditionally, Alaska Natives trained their youth with athletic challenges that would prepare them for the demands of hunting and fishing. These practices evolved into the games of agility and mobility that are showcased in the Alaska Native Olympics today.

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Celebrations by Season

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 12:53:50 +0000

These Alaska Native festivals and cultural events celebrate our culture and preserve our traditions.

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Museums & Heritage Sites

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 12:50:50 +0000

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Alaska Native Cultural Experiences

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 12:46:55 +0000

Each tribe has thousands of years of traditions and stories to tell, and their cultures can be experienced firsthand on cultural tours throughout the state. Alaska Native-owned tour operators and programs allow travelers to connect on a more personal level with today’s Alaska Native Peoples through interactive experiences.

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Ways to Support Alaska Native Businesses

Mary Goddard Tlingit — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 12:44:24 +0000

Purchasing art from Alaska Native artisans is twofold. When you support these locally owned businesses, not only does the money go back into the community, helping it to thrive, but you receive an authentic Alaska experience. Buyers take home quality art—rich with culture and history—while the artists receive profit to continue their sacred traditions, pass down knowledge, and stay connected to their cultural heritage. Alaska Native artists share the same sentiment: “Our art helps us maintain our lifestyle and continue on with our way of life.”

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Let Us Share Our Culture With You

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 12:39:26 +0000

Our Alaska Native cultures are warm and welcoming. We want to be the first to welcome you to our shores, to our docks when the cruise ships pull up, to be the one serving you our local cuisine; cuisine that is full of our history. We want to encourage you to take in art, with your eyes, with your soul, and even special gifts to take home.

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Modes of Passage

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 12:37:22 +0000

SAMANTHA PHILLIPS TLINGIT & MARY GODDARD TLINGIT

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The Importance of Storytelling

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 11:16:05 +0000

Alaska Native people believe that storytelling is powerful and full of knowledge, and a crucial way to pass on core Indigenous values and history.

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First People of This Land

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 10:50:30 +0000

Indigenous people of Alaska share common threads: subsistence lifestyle, cultural values, and deep connection to place. But each of the five main cultural groups also carries their own distinctions and traditions in their respective regions.

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