TANAINA IN ALASKA

THIS IS THE ONLY NORTHERN ATHAPASKAN SPEAKING GROUP OCCUPYING EXTENSIVE PORTIONS OF THE ALASKAN SEACOAST. THEY LIVED IN COOK INLET SO NAMED FROM CAPTAIN COOK IN 1778. THEIR NAME MEANS THE PEOPLE OR PEOPLE OF KANEI PENINSULA. THEIR MAIN FOOD IS FISH AND SALMON. THEY HUNT BEARS, MOUNTAIN SHEEP, GOATS, MOOSE, CARIBOU, AND GAME. THEY USED MOST ANIMALS FUR FOR CLOTHING AND OTHER PURPOSES. THEY HAD ABOUT 20 VILLAGES LOCATED NEAR STREAMS FOR SALMON.

THERE WAS A RUSSIAN SETTLEMENT IN 1784 THAT MARKED AN IMPORTANT EVENT FOR THE HISTORY OF THE REGION BECAUSE THE RUSSIANS ASSISTED THE ALEUTIAN HUNTERS. THEY EXPLOITED THE ANIMAL WEALTH OF THE REGION. BY 1786 THEY HAD CONSIDERABLE SUCCESS IN TRADING WITH THE TANAINA. BY 1867 THE U S CLAIMED THIS TERRITORY FROM RUSSIA. IN 1740 THERE WERE ABOUT 1200 TANAINA.

THE ALASKAN INLETS HAVE BEEN INHABITED AT LEAST FOR 6000 YEARS ACCORDING TO 300 ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES. RAVEN AND BEAVER ARE IMPORTANT CHARACTERS IN MYTHOLOGICAL STORIES. RAVEN CAN BE A CREATOR GOD AND HELPED PEOPLE SHAPE THEIR WORLD. HE IS ALSO A TRICKSTER AND MANY STORIES TALK ABOUT HIM AS GETTING INTO TROUBLE. BEAVER IS A HEROIC MONSTER SLAYING CREATURE IN TANAINA FOLK LORE. HE USES CLEVERNESS TO DEFEAT OR KILL HIS ENEMY.

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