![]() Jackson implemented an "English Only" policy within the school, legal, and political systems, and any violation of the rule was met with physical and mental punishments and abuse. It was only after American colonization when missionary, and later General Agent of Education of the Territory of Alaska, Sheldon Jackson, arrived in Alaska in 1877, did the use of native Alaska languages start to plummet. ![]() Still, Native Alaskan languages remained the dominant languages spoken in Alaska. Intermarriages between Russians and Native Alaskans were frequent and gave rise to a new mixed population, increasing the number of Native Alaskans being able to speak both their native languages and Russian. For example, kofe (coffee) and chay (tea) are Russian words that have been added to the vocabularies of the Unangan (Aleut), Alutiiq (Sugpiaq), and Yup'ik. As Russia was the first country to colonize Alaska, Russian words for goods or objects that were new to Native Alaskans were adopted into their native languages. Upon contact with non-Native languages, the usage of native languages and the languages themselves have changed. It was common for many individuals to be bilingual in order to facilitate business and rapports among different native groups. Prior to colonization by Russia, most Alaskan Native groups had their own unique languages, which were used for everyday communications. This resurrection has since taken off and there has been legislation that relates to the preservation and promotion of the native language. Krauss, from the years 1960–1970, "Alaska Native Languages" went through "a transitional period of rebirth of interest in Alaska Native languages and a shift of developments in their favor". Through the years after the colonization by the Russians, the importance of native languages subsided until the age of reformation occurred.Īs stated by Michael E. They all share similar characteristics, but have distinctive processes. These can be divided into four separate families the Eskimo–Aleut languages, Athabaskan, Haida, and Tsimshian. ![]() However, by the time that Alaska joined the union in 1959, the number dwindled to only 20 spoken within the boundaries of the state. Even with just a small number of communities that make up the entire population, there were more than 300 different languages that the Natives used to communicate with one another. The Native community can be separated into six large tribes and a number of smaller tribes, including the Iñupiat, Yup'ik, Aleut, Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian, and others. Alaska Natives are a group of indigenous people that live in the state of Alaska and trace their heritage back to the last two great migrations that occurred thousands of years ago.
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