Diverse Settlements of Alaska’s Indigenous Peoples
The location of Alaska’s indigenous people is quite extensive. For example, the Aleuts live in different regions on the peninsula of Alaska, and the Eyaks live in the village of Cordova. The northern Athapascans inhabit the interior of Alaska, and only the Tanaina tribe has access to the sea in the Kenai Peninsula.
Tlingit inhabit the islands of the Alexander Archipelago and the coast closest to it from Yakutat Bay to the Itkin River and further south. Haida occupy the Queen Charlotte Islands and the southern part of Prince William’s Cape. The Inupiaq are an indigenous people living in the far north. They occupy Greenland’s territory, and their settlements are in Canada (Nunavut) and Alaska.
Geography and Ecology of St. Lawrence Island
St. Lawrence Island was sold in 1867, along with Alaska, to the United States. This small piece of land is 145 kilometers long and no more than 36 kilometers wide. It is the sixth-largest island in the United States. The island’s population is about 1200 people living in two cities; mostly Inupiaq people live there.
St. Lawrence Island shaped the way the people lived within their natural environment. The northern lands are practically devoid of vegetation, but many birds and mammals feed on fish on the island. The Anadyr current brings a lot of fish. The island has no full-fledged trees, only shrubs no more than 30 cm high. In the south of the island is a permanent floe edge, where the current carries the ice away from the shore.
Traditional Economic Activities and Food Security
The harsh climate and remoteness from the mainland make life difficult for residents. Among the main economic activities of the Inupiaq, it is worth noting the fishing for sea animals. They live by preserving the traditional way of life and teaching their children about household occupations, including fishing, from an early age.
In addition, deer husbandry provides Inupiaq’s livelihood. Deer were brought to the island in 1900, which provided the residents with food security. A deer herder can begin an independent existence when they gather a large herd. This usually happens at an older age, and deer herders hire young relatives, promising them a well-fed life.
Housing and Seasonal Adaptation
In relatively civilized places, such as cities on St. Lawrence Island, Inupiaq live in houses made of wood, stone, and other materials. However, these people live according to the traditional way of life, especially those who lead a nomadic lifestyle. Inupiaq has two types of national dwellings — winter and summer. In the summer, Inupiaq lives in Yaranga, a shelter made of skins that are quickly erected and disassembled. In winter, Inupiaq people live in an igloo – a house shaped like a hemisphere built from snow blocks.
Preservation of Culture Through Archaeology and Tradition
Historical excavations are another way of interacting with the land in Inupiaq. They make it possible to establish the historical picture of the world more accurately, so the extracted artifacts are of high scientific value. Connecting indigenous ways of knowing the past with the present involves further exploration of the lands and preserving the traditional way of life. It has been passed down from generation to generation and, therefore, is the most vivid evidence of the life of the past. By preserving the ancient ways of fishing and farming, Inupiaq ensure their survival and make an undeniable contribution to connecting Indigenous ways of knowing culture and history with the present.