Alaska Native languages

Alaska Natives are a group of indigenous people that live in the state of Alaska and trace their heritage back to the last two great migrations that occurred thousands of years ago. The Native community can be separated into six large tribes and a number of smaller tribes, including the Iñupiat, Yup'ik, Aleut, Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian, and others. Even with just a small number of communities that make up the entire population, there were more than 300 different languages that the Natives used to communicate with one another.^[1]

However, by the time that Alaska joined the union in 1959, the number dwindled to only 20 spoken within the boundaries of the state.^[2]^[3] These can be divided into four separate families; the Eskimo–Aleut languages, Athabaskan, Haida, and Tsimshian. They all share similar characteristics, but have distinctive processes. Through the years after the colonization by the Russians, the importance of native languages subsided until the age of reformation occurred.

As stated by Michael E. Krauss, from the years 1960–1970, "Alaska Native Languages" went through "a transitional period of rebirth of interest in Alaska Native languages and a shift of developments in their favor".^[4] This resurrection has since taken off and there has been legislation that relates to the preservation and promotion of the native language.

^ Jacob, W. James; Cheng, Sheng Yao; Porter, Maureen K, eds. (2015). Indigenous Education. doi:10.1007/978-94-017-9355-1. ISBN 978-94-017-9354-4.
^ Krauss, Michael; Holton, Gary; Kerr, Jim; West, Colin T. (2011). "Indigenous Peoples and Languages of Alaska". Alaska Native Language Center and UAA Institute of Social and Economic Research. Fairbanks and Anchorage.
^ Smith, Matthew (October 24, 2014). "20 Alaska Native Languages Now Official State Languages". Alaska Public Media. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
^ Krauss, Michael E. (1980). Alaska Native Languages: Past, Present, and Future. (Alaska Native Language Center Research Papers No. 4). Fairbanks: Alaska Native Language Center. ISBN 9780933769342.

[1] Jacob, W. James; Cheng, Sheng Yao; Porter, Maureen K, eds. (2015). Indigenous Education. doi:10.1007/978-94-017-9355-1. ISBN 978-94-017-9354-4.

[2] Krauss, Michael; Holton, Gary; Kerr, Jim; West, Colin T. (2011). "Indigenous Peoples and Languages of Alaska". Alaska Native Language Center and UAA Institute of Social and Economic Research. Fairbanks and Anchorage.

[3] Smith, Matthew (October 24, 2014). "20 Alaska Native Languages Now Official State Languages". Alaska Public Media. Retrieved March 5, 2019.

[Michaelekrauss1980alnatlang-4] Krauss, Michael E. (1980). Alaska Native Languages: Past, Present, and Future. (Alaska Native Language Center Research Papers No. 4). Fairbanks: Alaska Native Language Center. ISBN 9780933769342.

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