Who Are the Aleut?
The Aleut, who call themselves Unangan ("the people"), are the indigenous inhabitants of the Aleutian Islands, the Pribilof Islands, and the western Alaska Peninsula. Today numbering approximately 15,000-17,000 people, they speak Unangan (Aleut), an Eskimo-Aleut language with two main dialects. The Unangan developed one of the world's most sophisticated maritime hunting cultures, adapting to the challenging North Pacific environment where they have lived for at least 9,000 years. Their territory spans over 1,000 miles of volcanic islands stretching between Alaska and Russia, one of the most demanding marine environments on Earth.
Maritime Mastery
The Unangan developed extraordinary maritime skills, hunting in the stormy North Pacific in baidarkas—sleek, highly maneuverable kayaks considered among the finest watercraft ever developed. These skin-on-frame boats, designed for the open ocean, could travel vast distances. Hunters pursued sea otters, seals, sea lions, and whales using sophisticated techniques and equipment including compound harpoons. Fishing, especially for halibut and cod, and collecting shellfish supplemented marine mammal hunting. Women processed and preserved foods, created intricate basketry (considered among the finest in the world), and crafted waterproof clothing from sea mammal intestines. Villages, typically located on beaches with good boat landing, housed populations that reached approximately 15,000-25,000 before contact.
Russian Colonial Impact
Russian contact beginning in 1741 proved catastrophic. Russian fur traders, seeking valuable sea otter pelts, enslaved Unangan men as hunters and held women and children hostage to ensure compliance. Violence, disruption of subsistence patterns, and introduced diseases reduced the Unangan population by an estimated 80-90% within decades. Despite this devastation, Unangan adapted and survived. Russian Orthodox Christianity, introduced during this period, was genuinely embraced and remains central to Unangan identity today. When the United States purchased Alaska in 1867, the Unangan faced new challenges including forced relocations during World War II, when the U.S. government interned Aleuts in Southeast Alaska camps where many died.
Contemporary Unangan
Modern Unangan communities face both challenges and opportunities. The Aleut language is severely endangered, with few fluent speakers remaining and intensive revitalization efforts underway. Commercial fishing has replaced traditional subsistence as the primary economy in most communities, though subsistence hunting and fishing remain culturally important. The Aleut Corporation, established under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, manages significant economic resources. Communities on the Pribilof Islands transitioned from the seal fur industry (which employed Aleuts in managed hunts) to fishing and tourism. Unangan basketry, Russian Orthodox traditions, and cultural heritage programs maintain connections to ancestral identity while communities navigate modern challenges of isolation, climate change, and economic sustainability.
References
- Black, L. T. (2004). Russians in Alaska: 1732-1867
- Laughlin, W. S. (1980). Aleuts: Survivors of the Bering Land Bridge
- Veniaminov, I. (1984). Notes on the Islands of the Unalashka District (Translation)