Alaska Archives – Page 4 of 5

Indian Missions of Alaska

Alaska was discovered by the Russians in 1741 and remained a possession of Russia until transferred to the United States in 1867. In 1794 regular missionary work was begun among the Aleut on Kodiak Island by monks of the Greek Catholic (Russian orthodox) church, under the Archimandrite Joassaf, with marked success among the islanders, lint with smaller result among the more warlike tribes of the mainland. Within a few years the savage A lent were transformed to civilized Christians, many of whom were able to read, write, and speak the Russian language. Among the pioneer workers were Fathers Juvenal, murdered … Read more

Indian Villages, Towns and Settlements of Alaska

These pages will provide an alphabetical listing for all the villages, towns, and settlements in what was the state of Alaska at the time the Handbook of American Indian of North America was written. Afognak to Aziavik Batza to Bolshoigor Carmel to Claikehak Dahet to Dyea Eider to Eyak Fetkina to Fugitive Gapkaliptoua to Gutheni Hachimuk to Hutsnuwu Ibin to Ivan

H Alaska Indian Villages, Towns and Settlements

A complete listing of all the Indian villages, towns and settlements as listed in Handbook of Americans North of Mexico. Hachimuk. A former Aleut village on Agattu id., Alaska, one of the Near id. group of the Aleutians, now uninhabited. Hamnulik. A former Aleut village on Agattu id., Alaska, one of the Near id. group of the Aleutians, now uninhabited. Hanilik. A former Aleut village on Agattu id, Alaska, one of the Near id. group of the Aleutians, now uninhabited. Hankutchin (river people). A Kutchin tribe on upper Yukon r. below Klondike r., Alaska. They make baskets of tama rack … Read more

G- Alaska Indian Villages, Towns and Settlements

A complete listing of all the Indian villages, towns and settlements as listed in Handbook of Americans North of Mexico. Gapkaliptoua. A Malemiut Eskimo village on Norton bay, Alaska. Zagoskin in Nouv. Ann. Voy., 5th s., xxi, map, 1850. Gaudekan (bell town). The principal Huna town, now generally called Huna, in Port Frederick, on the N. shore of Chichagof id., Alaska. Pop. 800 in 1880; 447 [including whites) in 1900. Gash. The winter town of the Sanyakoan (q.v.), a Tlingit clan near C. Fox, s. Alaska. Most of the people have now moved to Ketchikan. (J. R. S.) Gilak. A … Read more

F- Alaska Indian Villages, Towns and Settlements

A complete listing of all the Indian villages, towns and settlements as listed in Handbook of Americans North of Mexico. Fetkina. A Chnagmiut village on the n. arm of the Yukon delta, Alaska; pop. 30 in 1880. Petroff in 10th Census, Alaska, 111, 1884. Fetutlin. A Hankutchin village of 106 people on upper Yukon r., Alaska, near the mouth of Forty-mile cr. Petroff, 10th Census, Alaska, map, 1884. Fort Yukon. A Kutchakutchin village and trading post of 107 inhabitants at the junction of Yukon and Porcupine rs., Alaska. Petroff in 10th Census, Alaska, 62, 1884. Fotshou’s Village. A summer camp … Read more

Eskimo Tribal Histories

Eskimo American aborigines, forming part of the Eskimauan linguistic stock, which formerly occupied nearly all the coasts and islands of Arctic America from E. Greenland and the N. end of Newfoundland to the westernmost Aleutian ids., even extending to the E. coast of Siberia a distance of more than 5,000 m . From remains found in Smith sd. it is evident that bands formerly wintered as far n. as lat. 79° and had summer camps up to 82°. At the present time they have re ceded from this extreme range and in the S. have abandoned the N. shore of … Read more

E- Alaska Indian Villages, Towns and Settlements

A complete listing of all the Indian villages, towns and settlements as listed in Handbook of Americans North of Mexico. Eider (trans, of Igognak, ‘eider duck’). An Aleut village on Captain bay, Unalaska, Alaska, at a point of the same name. Pop. 39 in 1830, according to Veniaminoff. Eiwhuelit. A division of the Yuit Eskimo on St Lawrence id., Bering sea. Bogoras says “they are plainly a colony from the nearest [Siberian] shore, probably from Indian point.” The villages are Chibukak, Chitnak, Kialegak, Kukuliak, Puguviliak, and Punuk. Ekaloaping. A Padlimiut Eskimo settlement in Padli fjord, Baffin land. Ekaluakdjuin. A summer … Read more

B- Alaska Indian Villages, Towns and Settlements

A complete listing of all the Indian villages, towns and settlements as listed in Handbook of Americans North of Mexico. Batza. A Koyukukhotana village on Batza r., Alaska, long. 154º. Batzulnetas. An Ahtena village near upper Copper r., where the trail starts for Tanana r., Alaska; lat. 62º 58′, long. 145º 22′ (post route map, 1903). Pop. 31 men, 10 women, and 15 children in 1885. Bazhi. An Ikogmiut village on the Yukon at the upper mouth of Innoko r., Alaska. Beaver. A former Aleut village on Unalaska, Aleutian ids.; pop. 41 in 1834. Belkofski (Russian: Bielkovskoie, squirrel village). An … Read more

A- Alaska Indian Villages, Towns and Settlements

A complete listing of all the Indian villages, towns and settlements as listed in Handbook of Americans North of Mexico. Afognak. A Kaniagmiut settlement consisting of 3 villages on Afognak id., s. of Cook inlet, Alaska (Bruce, Alaska, map, 1895). Pop. 339 in 1880, 409 in 1890, 307 in 1900. Agiukchuk. A Kaialigamiut village opposite the s. shore of Nelson id., Alas ka; pop. 35 in 1880, 81 in 1890. Agivavik. A Nushagagmiut village on Nushagak r., Alaska; pop. 52 in 1880, 30 in 1890. Agomekelenanak. An Eskimo village in the Kuskokwim district, Alaska. Pop. 15 in 1890. Agulakpak. An … Read more

Haida Tribe

Haida Indians, Haida Nation (Xa’ida, ‘people’). The native and popular name for the Indians of the Queen Charlotte Islands., British Columbia, and the south end of Prince of Wales Island, Alaska, comprising the Skittagetan family. By the natives themselves the term may be applied generally to any human being or specifically to one speaking the Haida language. Some authors have improperly restricted the application of the tend to the Queen Charlotte islanders, calling the Alaskan Haida, Kaigani. Several English variants of this word owe their origin to the fact that a suffix usually accompanies it in the native language, making … Read more

Kawchodinne Tribe

Kawchodinne Indians, Kawchodinne People, Kawchodinne First Nation (ka ‘hare’, cho ‘great’, dinne ‘people’: ‘people of the great hares’). An Athapascan tribe dwelling north of Great Bear Lake, Mackenzie Territory, Canada, on Mackenzie river, the lakes east of it, and Anderson river. Mackenzie said they were a small tribe residing on Peace river, who spoke the language of the Chipewyan and derived their name from the Arctic hare, their chief means of support. At another time he placed them on Porcupine river, Alaska. Franklin placed them immediately north of the Thlingchadinne on the north side of the outlet of Bear lake. Back located … Read more

Kutchin Tribe

Kutchin Indians, Kutchin People, Kutchin First Nation (Kutchin = ‘people’). A group of Athapascan tribes in Alaska and British North America, inhabiting the region on the Yukon and its tributaries above Nuklukayet, the Peel river basin, and the lower Mackenzie valley. They have decreased to half their former numbers owing to wars between the tribes and the killing of female children. Chiefs and medicine-men and those who possess rank acquired by property have two or more wives. They usually live in large parties, each headed by a chief and having one or more medicine-men, the latter acquiring an authority to … Read more

Wrangell’s Trip Through the Russian River Valley

In the summer of 1830, Ferdinand P. Von Wrangell made a long and difficult journey across Siberia accompanied by his wife and infant daughter, to cross the North Pacific to New Archangel (Sitka). This was Von Wrangell’s third visit to Russian-America. In 1836 he returned to Russia by way of Mexico. He tried unsuccessfully to negotiate and enlargement of Russian possessions in California. He visited the tribes of Northern California during this trip.

Indian Tribes of the Alaska Region

The Alaska Region encompasses a dynamic and diverse mix of Tribes, Tribal organizations and natural features. With the exception of the Annette Island Reserve, which falls under the Northwest Region, the entire state of Alaska falls under the jurisdiction of the Alaska Region. The nearly 80,000 Tribal members that make up the 229 Tribes under the Alaska Region jurisdiction stretch from Ketchikan in the Southeast Panhandle to Barrow on the Arctic Ocean and from Eagle on the Yukon Territory border to Atka in the Aleutian Chain. Regional Office Niles C. Cesar Regional Director Alaska Regional Office Bureau of Indian Affairs … Read more

1889 – 1891 Indian Mission Staff Members

1889 – 1891 Indian Mission Staff Members 1889 Santee Agency, Nebraska Normal Training School Superintendent and Missionary, Rev. A.L. Riggs, Santee Agency, Neb. Treasurer Mr. Joseph H. Steer, Santee Agency, Neb. Teachers Mr. J.A. Chadbourne, Bridgewater, Mass. Miss Harriet B. Ilsley, Newark, N.J. Miss Susie M. Furman, Canandaigua, Mich. Miss Edith Leonard, Scotland, Mass. Miss Cora I. Riggs, Santee Agency, Neb. Miss Ella Worden, Topeka, Kan. Native Teachers, James Garvie, Santee Agency, Neb. Jennie M. Cox, Santee Agency, Neb. Eugenia LaMoore, Brown Earth, Dak. Matrons, (Dakota Home), Miss L.H. Douglass, New Haven, Conn. (Bird’s Nest), Miss Harriet A. Brown, Rocky … Read more

Our 1938 Mission in Alaska

We have undertaken to establish a mission school among the Arctic Eskimo Indians of Alaska. The location is to be at Point Prince of Wales at Behrings Strait, the westernmost point of the mainland of America and nearest to Asia. Its distance from the North Pole has not yet been ascertained. The inhabitants are described by Capt. Charles H. Stockton, of the United States Navy, as “the boldest and most aggressive people of all the Arctic coast. They are such a turbulent crowd that the whalers are afraid to visit them and consequently give them a wide berth. It is … Read more

Conference with Indian Commissioners

The Annual Conference of the Board of Indian Commissioners with the representatives of the various religious bodies having charge of Indian Missions was held in the parlors of the Riggs House, January 8th. The presence of Senator Dawes, Representative Cutcheon, and other distinguished persons, gave weight to the deliberations, and special interest was added to the meeting by the troubles now prevailing in the Dakotas among the Sioux Indians. Commissioner Morgan, Captain Pratt of the Carlisle School, General Armstrong of Hampton, and the Secretaries of the Missionary Societies presented an array of facts and of recent information that gave a … Read more