The Aleut (Unangan) People

Who Are the Aleut?

The Aleut, who call themselves Unangan (coastal people) or Unangax̂, are the indigenous people of the Aleutian Islands, an archipelago stretching 1,200 miles from Alaska toward Russia through some of Earth's most treacherous waters. Numbering approximately 17,000 today, the Aleut developed one of the world's most sophisticated maritime cultures, hunting sea otters, whales, and seals from elegant skin-covered kayaks called baidarkas (igyax in Unangan). For over 9,000 years they thrived in a harsh environment of volcanic islands, fierce storms, and cold seas, creating complex societies with distinctive language, art, and technology. Russian colonization beginning in 1741 brought catastrophic population collapse through violence, disease, and forced labor harvesting sea otter pelts for the fur trade. During World War II, the U.S. government forcibly evacuated Aleut communities, leading to further cultural disruption. Today the Unangan maintain cultural identity through language revitalization, traditional crafts like basket weaving, and protection of ancestral lands and waters.

Ancient Maritime Adaptation

Archaeological evidence shows Unangan ancestors colonized the Aleutian Islands at least 9,000 years ago, adapting to one of the most challenging environments humans have inhabited. The volcanic islands offered no trees (except occasional driftwood), limited land mammals, and violent weather—the Aleutians are called the "Cradle of Storms" for their constant gales and fog. The Aleut survived entirely on marine resources: sea otters, fur seals, sea lions, whales, halibut, salmon, octopus, sea urchins, clams, and seabirds. Villages (ulax) consisted of semi-subterranean houses (barabaras) built into hillsides for insulation, with whale bone and driftwood frames covered with sod and grass. These communal houses could shelter 40-50 people through harsh winters. Mummies of important individuals were preserved in volcanic caves using sophisticated techniques. The Aleut developed the Unangam tunuu language with eastern and western dialects, part of the Eskimo-Aleut language family though culturally and linguistically distinct from Inuit and Yupik peoples.

Sea Hunting Technology and Expertise

The Aleut were supreme maritime hunters, developing specialized equipment unmatched in the Arctic. The baidarka (igyax) kayak came in one, two, or three-hatch versions for different purposes. Hunters wore gut parkas (kamleika) made from sea lion or seal intestines sewn watertight, with hoods tied around the kayak hatch creating a waterproof seal allowing the kayaker to roll and survive capsizing in freezing seas. Throwing boards (atlatls) launched harpoons with deadly force at sea otters and seals. Poisoned harpoon points used aconite (monkshood plant toxin) that killed whales hours or days later when they washed ashore. Basketry reached extraordinary refinement—Aleut women wove grass baskets so tightly they held water, with intricate patterns and up to 2,500 stitches per square inch. These baskets are considered among the finest in the world. Wooden hunting visors protected eyes from sun and spray while providing spiritual power through painted designs and sea lion whiskers.

Russian Colonization and the Fur Trade

Vitus Bering's 1741 Russian expedition to Alaska made first contact with the Aleut, beginning a catastrophic era. Russian fur traders (promyshlenniki) systematically enslaved Aleut men as sea otter hunters, holding women and children hostage to force compliance. The Russian-American Company monopolized the fur trade, extracting millions of sea otter pelts that nearly drove the species to extinction. Aleut population collapsed from an estimated 15,000-25,000 in 1740 to fewer than 2,000 by 1900 due to Russian violence, forced labor, introduced diseases (smallpox, influenza, tuberculosis), and starvation when hunters were unable to provide for their families. The Russian Orthodox Church missionized the Aleut, creating a syncretic Christianity that incorporated Aleut beliefs and persists today as a core cultural identity. Father Ivan Veniaminov (later Saint Innocent) created the first written Aleut language in Cyrillic script in the 1820s. When the U.S. purchased Alaska in 1867, conditions improved slightly but cultural disruption continued.

World War II Internment and Relocation

World War II brought new trauma. After Japan bombed Dutch Harbor and occupied Attu and Kiska islands in 1942, the U.S. military forcibly evacuated nearly 900 Aleuts from the Aleutian and Pribilof Islands. They were transported to Southeast Alaska and imprisoned in abandoned fish canneries and gold mines with inadequate food, sanitation, and medical care. Approximately 10% died during the two-year internment from disease and poor conditions. Meanwhile, the U.S. military burned Aleut villages to prevent Japanese use, destroying homes, churches, and cultural artifacts accumulated over generations. When internees finally returned in 1945, they found communities devastated. The 1988 Civil Liberties Act finally acknowledged this injustice and provided reparations, but the cultural and psychological damage was immense. The abandoned village sites remain as stark reminders of this forgotten American concentration camp system.

Cultural Revitalization and Contemporary Life

Despite catastrophic population loss and cultural disruption, the Unangan persist. The Aleut language, critically endangered with fewer than 100 native speakers, is being revitalized through school programs, dictionaries, and digital resources. Traditional basket weaving experienced a renaissance, with master weavers teaching younger generations techniques nearly lost during the 20th century. The Museum of the Aleutians in Unalaska preserves archaeological and cultural heritage. Aleut organizations like the Aleut Corporation and Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association manage land claims, provide social services, and protect cultural resources. Commercial fishing and fish processing employ many Aleut in their traditional marine economy adapted to modern markets. Subsistence hunting of seals, sea lions, and fish continues under Alaska Native subsistence rights. Environmental activism protects the Bering Sea ecosystem from overfishing and climate change impacts. The Aleut maintain identity through Russian Orthodox faith traditions, storytelling, traditional foods, and pride in their ancestors' extraordinary adaptation to one of Earth's harshest environments.