Economic
The Athabascans traditionally had a trade based economy. They came in contact with other native groups during their journeys for hunting, fishing, and trapping. Athabaskans along the lower Yukon and Kuskokwim rivers traded with coastal Eskimos. At Unalakleet, on the coast of Norton Sound, the Athabaskans traded with Yupik and Inupiaq Eskimos. Reindeer hides, tobacco, and iron pots from Siberia could be traded for black fox and beaver skins, wood bowls, and caribou skins from Interior Alaska. At Nulato, on the Yukon River, Koyukon Athabaskans met with Yupik Eskimos to exchange beaver, marten, and mink furs for sea lion skins and fancy tanned parkas. Kutchin Athabaskans traveled to the Arctic Ocean coast where they traded with Inupiaq Eskimos. Tlingits crossed the Coast Mountains to trade seal and eulachon oil for furs and copper.
Social
Typical Athabascan families consist of a mother, father, their children, and grandparents. The Alaskan Athabascans believe that a girl is ready to marry soon after she hits puberty. Her suitor is preferably someone who demonstrates excellent hunting skills, because men are responsible for hunting. The man works for his in-laws for a year or two before possessing his own home.
Culture
Clothing
The Athabascans made clothes from different animal hides. They liked caribou hide the best because of its warmth and pliability. They removed the hair from the hide for summer clothing. They left the hair on the hide and turned it inward for winter clothing. Hide moccasins and boots were important items in their clothing. Men and women know how to sew, although the women were known for doing most of the skin sewing. For the Athabascans, clothing was both used as protection against the weather and as beautiful works of art. The Athabascans decorated their clothes heavily with quills, pieces of fur, beadwork, and embroidery. Wide straps made from skin of show show hare held babies to mothers back in order to free their hands.
Regalia
Traditional regalia might be different from region to region. Some regalia include men’s beaded jackets, dentalium shell necklaces typically worn by chiefs, and men and women's tunics that were beaded, and women’s beaded dancing boots.
Traditions
All Activities were marked by the passing moons, all were named according to the different conditions: "when the first king salmon oomes," "when the moose lose their antlers," "little crust comes on snow," and more. The winter was "the time we gathered together." when distant families returned to their winter villages, hunted smaller animals close by and gathered for potlucks and other community celebrations
Rivers provided the main means of thransportation in winter and summer. Athabascans used birch bark canoes, rafts, or moose skin boats. In the winter, Athabascans traveled on snowshoes and pulled sleds by hand. Sometimes the Athabascans used dogs for packing. More commonly they used them for hunting. The Athabascans taught their dogs to chase animals and hold them at bay until the hunter came to kill the animals.
Traditional tools and technology reflect the resources of the regions. Traditional tools were made of stone, antlers, wood, and bone. Such tools were used to build houses, boats, snowshoes, clothing, and cooking utensils. Birch trees were used wherever they were found.
Because food was difficult to obtain, many Athabascans did not live in large or permanent villages. Most of these Athabascans moved constantly however, several of the Athabascan groups moved only seasonally. They dwelled in larger, more permanent communities and traveled only seasonally to family designed fishing and hunting sites. During long, cold winters some Athabascans lived in structures partially underground. Some Athabascans live in dome shaped structures covered with caribou or moose skin or sewn birch bark. Other Athabascans lived in rectangular log homes with sod roofs. The Athabascans summer homes were made of birch bark. When the Athabascans were traveling, they made temporary shelters using brush or birch branches.
Clothing
The Athabascans made clothes from different animal hides. They liked caribou hide the best because of its warmth and pliability. They removed the hair from the hide for summer clothing. They left the hair on the hide and turned it inward for winter clothing. Hide moccasins and boots were important items in their clothing. Men and women know how to sew, although the women were known for doing most of the skin sewing. For the Athabascans, clothing was both used as protection against the weather and as beautiful works of art. The Athabascans decorated their clothes heavily with quills, pieces of fur, beadwork, and embroidery. Wide straps made from skin of show show hare held babies to mothers back in order to free their hands.
Regalia
Traditional regalia might be different from region to region. Some regalia include men’s beaded jackets, dentalium shell necklaces typically worn by chiefs, and men and women's tunics that were beaded, and women’s beaded dancing boots.
Traditions
All Activities were marked by the passing moons, all were named according to the different conditions: "when the first king salmon oomes," "when the moose lose their antlers," "little crust comes on snow," and more. The winter was "the time we gathered together." when distant families returned to their winter villages, hunted smaller animals close by and gathered for potlucks and other community celebrations
Transportation
Rivers provided the main means of thransportation in winter and summer. Athabascans used birch bark canoes, rafts, or moose skin boats. In the winter, Athabascans traveled on snowshoes and pulled sleds by hand. Sometimes the Athabascans used dogs for packing. More commonly they used them for hunting. The Athabascans taught their dogs to chase animals and hold them at bay until the hunter came to kill the animals.
Tools and Technology
Traditional tools and technology reflect the resources of the regions. Traditional tools were made of stone, antlers, wood, and bone. Such tools were used to build houses, boats, snowshoes, clothing, and cooking utensils. Birch trees were used wherever they were found.
House Types and Settlements
Because food was difficult to obtain, many Athabascans did not live in large or permanent villages. Most of these Athabascans moved constantly however, several of the Athabascan groups moved only seasonally. They dwelled in larger, more permanent communities and traveled only seasonally to family designed fishing and hunting sites. During long, cold winters some Athabascans lived in structures partially underground. Some Athabascans live in dome shaped structures covered with caribou or moose skin or sewn birch bark. Other Athabascans lived in rectangular log homes with sod roofs. The Athabascans summer homes were made of birch bark. When the Athabascans were traveling, they made temporary shelters using brush or birch branches.
Political
Leaders
Before Europeans came, Athabascan leaders were only needed when many families came together and formed groups to hunt and gather. Then they chose the person with the skills best suited for a particular task to be their leader. When the group broke up, then the leadership position of authority ended.
A male who wanted to be a leader held frequent potlatches (gift-giving ceremonies). This was to gain respect from his people. After increased contact with whites, the leader's role expanded. He was then called the middleman between his people and white traders.
1971 Passage
By 1906, the villages were divided into “corporations” with the 1971 passage of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Actownership transferred from the corporations to the traditional tribal governments Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA). The act placed twelve big regional corporations in charge of the economic development and land use of the villages. Some Alaska Natives worked to get land.
Leaders
Before Europeans came, Athabascan leaders were only needed when many families came together and formed groups to hunt and gather. Then they chose the person with the skills best suited for a particular task to be their leader. When the group broke up, then the leadership position of authority ended.
A male who wanted to be a leader held frequent potlatches (gift-giving ceremonies). This was to gain respect from his people. After increased contact with whites, the leader's role expanded. He was then called the middleman between his people and white traders.
1971 Passage
By 1906, the villages were divided into “corporations” with the 1971 passage of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Actownership transferred from the corporations to the traditional tribal governments Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA). The act placed twelve big regional corporations in charge of the economic development and land use of the villages. Some Alaska Natives worked to get land.