Back سكان الاسكا الاصليين ARZ Natius d'Alaska Catalan Indigene Völker Alaskas German Nativos de Alaska Spanish بومیان آلاسکا Persian Alaskan alkuperäiskansat Finnish Autochtones d'Alaska French Penduduk asli Alaska ID Nativi dell'Alaska Italian アラスカ先住民 Japanese
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 Alaskan Yup'ik Native dancer performing in Fairbanks | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| ≈106,660 (2006)[1] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 United States of America ( Alaska) | |
| Languages | |
| English, Alaskan Russian, Haida, Tsimshianic languages, Eskaleut languages (Inupiaq, Central Alaskan Yup'ik, Alutiiq, Aleut), Chinook Jargon, Na-Dené languages (Northern Athabaskan, Eyak, Tlingit), others | |
| Religion | |
| Shamanism (largely ex) Alaska Native religion, Christianity (Protestantism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Roman Catholicism) | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Alaskan Creoles, Native Americans, First Nations, Inuit |
| Part of a series on |
| Native Americans in the United States |
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Alaska Natives (also known as Native Alaskans or Indigenous Alaskans) are the Indigenous peoples of Alaska that encompass a diverse arena of cultural and linguistic groups, including the Iñupiat, Yupik, Aleut, Eyak, Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian, and various Northern Athabaskan, as well as Russian Creoles. These groups are often categorized by their distinct language families. Many Alaska Natives are enrolled in federally recognized Alaska Native tribal entities, which are members of 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, likely in more than one wave. Some present-day groups descend from a later migration event that also led to settlement across northern North America, with these populations generally not migrating further south. 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.[2] 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.[3]
- ^ Alaska Department of Workforce Development (2006). "Table 1.8 Alaska Native American Population Alone By Age And Male/Female, July 1, 2006."[permanent dead link] Alaska Department of Labor & Workforce Development, Research & Analysis. Retrieved on 2007-05-23.
- ^ "Alaska Natives, Alaska Kids' Corner, State of Alaska". alaska.gov. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
- ^ "U.S. Census Bureau Quick Facts". www.census.gov. 2017.