A brief history of the native people of Alaska is included in the Alaska Explorer map.
It is popularly thought that the first human inhabitants of Alaska arrived from Asia during the last Ice Age when a land bridge existed between Alaska and Siberia. When the Russians first came to Alaska there were approximately 60-80 thousand tribal inhabitants.
From difficult beginnings with the outside world, including some degree of slavery and exploitation, the native people of Alaska managed to secure land from the US Government and some degree of financial compensation. With this as well as some support programs the existing 104,000 or so native people are keeping their ancient traditions and heritage alive.
Travel map of Alaska and the Inside Passage including the Aleutian Islands and adjacent areas of Canada
Featuring:
- llustrated biographies of explorers and other visitors
- Introductory information on native peoples
- Color photos and text on Alaska's wildlife
- Historical Time Line
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The native Eskimo population hail originally from the Bering Sea and Arctic Ocean coastlines and form the biggest indigenous group in Alaska today, apparently when first met by Europeans they lived in houses made of sod and not ice, as more popularly thought.
The native Athabascan Indian population in Alaska come from the interior of the state and were predominantly a nomadic people moving seasonally between camps for hunting game, waterfowl and fish. Today, Athabascans live in an area rich in forests and rivers and some still practice the traditional crafts of making beaded clothes, bark canoes and smoking moose meat.
The Southern Indian, including the Tlingit and Haida peoples, were among the first to enter Alaska arriving from Asia across what is now known as the Bering Strait. These people are traditionally the creators of totem poles, and lived off hunting and fishing.
When the Russians reached the Aleutian chain, they discovered that almost all the islands were inhabited, with Aleuts; native people of Alaska, living in large communal houses relying on fishing and hunting and were famous for their basket making skills. Some Aleuts are still in residence on the islands although many suffered from contact with western cultures.
Amongst the later settlers were the Russian Alaskans who have left an imprint on the Alaskan communities mainly by way of the Russian Orthodox religion, which is still practiced in many places from Sitka through to the Aleutians.
