Unangan
Encyclopedia
Unangan is the name that the people of the southwest Alaska Peninsula
and the islands now called the Aleutian Islands call themselves.
Ivan Veniaminov lived amongst the indigenous people of the Fox Islands
from 1824 to 1834, extensively studying the language and the people, and he does not equivocate on the name Unangan, writing in his journal, "The inhabitants of these islands, called 'Aleuts' by the Russians and by all the Europeans, called themselves Unangan" (p. 157). In addition to the "...general appelation, Unangan...", Veniaminof provides local names for people of various island groups of directions (eastern or western).
The word "Unangan" (plural Unanga-x) evidently translates to "Seasider" (p. 444).
One of the great Unangan leaders and educators of the 20th century was Anfesia Shapsnikoff
who traveled around the state of Alaska, teaching Aleut basketry and encouraging elders to teach Unangan language and traditional skills so that youth could carry ancient knowledge into the future.
Alaska Peninsula
The Alaska Peninsula is a peninsula extending about to the southwest from the mainland of Alaska and ending in the Aleutian Islands. The peninsula separates the Pacific Ocean from Bristol Bay, an arm of the Bering Sea....
and the islands now called the Aleutian Islands call themselves.
Ivan Veniaminov lived amongst the indigenous people of the Fox Islands
Fox Islands (Alaska)
The Fox Islands are a group of islands in the eastern Aleutian Islands of the U.S. state of Alaska. The Fox Islands are the closest to mainland North America in the Aleutian chain, and just east of Samalga Pass and the Islands of Four Mountains group....
from 1824 to 1834, extensively studying the language and the people, and he does not equivocate on the name Unangan, writing in his journal, "The inhabitants of these islands, called 'Aleuts' by the Russians and by all the Europeans, called themselves Unangan" (p. 157). In addition to the "...general appelation, Unangan...", Veniaminof provides local names for people of various island groups of directions (eastern or western).
The word "Unangan" (plural Unanga-x) evidently translates to "Seasider" (p. 444).
One of the great Unangan leaders and educators of the 20th century was Anfesia Shapsnikoff
Anfesia Shapsnikoff
Anfesia Shapsnikoff was an Aleut leader and educator born October 1, 1901 at Atka,_Alaskain the Aleutian Islands. Renowned for her weaving of Aleut grass baskets, Anfesia flew to many communities throughout Alaska to teach children the lost art of Attu basket weaving.The Twenty-First Legislature...
who traveled around the state of Alaska, teaching Aleut basketry and encouraging elders to teach Unangan language and traditional skills so that youth could carry ancient knowledge into the future.