Alaska Natives

Alaska Natives are the Indigenous peoples of the U.S. state of Alaska. They encompass diverse cultural and linguistic groups, including Iñupiat, Aleut, Yupik peoples, and American Indians such as the Eyak, Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian, and various Northern Athabaskan. Most Alaska Natives are enrolled in federally recognized Alaska Native tribes, which are members of the 13 Alaska Native Regional Corporations responsible for managing land and financial claims. The migration of Alaska Natives' ancestors into the Alaskan region occurred thousands of years ago in multiple waves. Some present-day groups descend from a later migration event whose descendants gradually settled across northern North America. The Alaska Native's ancestors are the ones who did not migrate further south or east. Genetic evidence indicates that these groups are not closely related to the Indigenous peoples of South America. Evidence from archaeology indicates that the ancestors of Alaska Natives migrated from Asia. Anthropologists have proposed that their journey to Alaska from Asia was made possible through the Bering land bridge or by traveling across the sea. Across the Arctic and the circumpolar north, the ancestors of Alaska Natives established a variety of Indigenous cultures that developed and changed over time. These cultures demonstrated considerable ingenuity in adapting to harsh climates and environments. Historically, the defining characteristic of Alaska Native groups has often been their languages, which belong to several major language families. Currently, Alaska Natives or Native Alaskans constitute more than 20% of Alaska's population.