Native American BackgroundAMERICAN LITERATURE 2015-2016

The Bering Land Bridge

Migration occurred in approximately 25,000 BP from Asia.

Hunter and gathering migration

Migration over the Bering Land Bridge was possible due to a global cold period called the Wisconsin Glaciation (we often call this an ice age).

Water stored in advancing glaciers caused lower sea levels

Rising sea levels following the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) covered the Bering Land Bridge by approximately 11,000 BP

Evidence of inhabitation from approximately 15,000BP

Pre-Columbian (before 1492) there were over 600 tribes in what is now the continental US

Estimates place Pre-Columbian populations for North America at 10 million

Alaska Native BackgroundAMERICAN LITERATURE 2015-2016

Athabaskan

Ahtna, Deg Hit’an, Dena'ina, (Kenaitze), Gwich’in, Hän, Holikachuk, Koyukon, Lower Tanana, Tanacross, Upper Tanana, Upper Kuskokwim (Kolchan)

Eyak

Tlingit

Haida

Tsimshian

Eskimo

Iñupiat, (Inuit)

Yupik

Siberian Yupik

Yup'ik & Cup'ik

Sugpiaq ~ Alutiiq

Chugach Sugpiaq, Koniag Alutiiq

Aleut (Unangan)

Alaska Native Language map

Iñupiat The Owl and the Raven: An Inuit Legend

The Owl and the Lemming An Eskimo Legend

Athabaskan “The Loon Story” - An Alaska Native Tanaina Tale

Patricia Wade of Chickaloon tells the Story of Denali

Chief Mitch Demientieff of Nenana tells the story of Denali

Aleut & Alutiiq “The Girl Who Married the Moon”

Yup’ik & Cup’ik

Eyak, Tlingit, Haida & Tsimshian