Unangax̂ History and Culture

Unangax̂ culture is full of creative inventions and ingenious uses of natural materials.

Library of Congress Photo / Control Number 2018689466

 

 

The Unangax̂ have brought a vibrant culture and incredible resourcefulness to the Aleutian Islands since time immemorial.

Library of Congress Photo / Control Number 2018689044

Daily Life in Unangax̂ Communities

The Unangax̂

The Alaska Natives who call the Aleutian Islands home are known as the Unangax̂. The commonly-known name Aleut was given to this group by Russian explorers who first contacted these Alaska Natives; however, the proper and self-given term for this group is Unangax̂, which translates roughly to “seasiders.”

The Unangax̂ have brought a vibrant culture and incredible resourcefulness to the Aleutian Islands since time immemorial. Anangula Archeological District National Historic Landmark preserves the oldest archaeological site in the Aleutian Islands, which contains 9,000-year-old evidence of Unangax̂ presence in the Aleutians. The nearby Chaluka National Historic Landmark located in the modern day village of Nikolski preserves a history of continuous occupation for as long as 4,000 years.

For the most part, Unangax̂ people lived subsistence lifestyles with an efficient and successful maritime economy until Russian explorers traveled to the Aleutians, colonizing the entire island chain by 1760 and expanding to Kodiak and Southeast Alaska by 1800. Russian presence devastated Unangax̂ communities. Russians noticed that the Traditional Ecological Knowledge and cultural practices of Unangax̂ people made them excellent sea otter hunters. Russians forced many Unangax̂ to hunt for them, often using violence in the process. Unangax families, diverted to working for the Russians, were unable to procure subsistence foods for themselves. Starvation, hardship and disease reduced the Unangax̂ population by nearly 80% during this time. European-introduced diseases such as smallpox and measles took a terrible toll on Unangax communities. Before Russian contact, the Unangax̂ population was estimated to be 15,000-18,000; by the end of Russian presence in the Aleutian Islands, only 2,500 Unangax̂ residents remained.

 

The Family Unit

While most Unangax̂ marriages were monogamous (having a single spouse), some were polygamous (having multiple spouses). Unangax̂ people followed a matrilineal kinship system, meaning that children belonged to the kin group or extended family of their mother. Women owned the homes that their family units lived in, usually occupied by her own family as well as her brothers and their wives. The eldest male would typically serve as the leader of the house and make most group decisions.

The responsibility of raising children depended on the child’s sex: girls were to be raised by their mothers while boys were raised by their maternal uncles (mother’s brother). Boys would leave their home and move in with their uncles in mid-childhood. Uncles took on a serious, disciplinary role to ensure that boys would be properly trained in cultural and subsistence practices while their fathers would serve more of a sympathetic and reassuring role.

 

Ulax̂, also known as barabaras, are built halfway into the ground.

Library of Congress Photo / Control Number 99614822

Unangax̂ Homes

Pre-contact Unangax̂ homes were called ulax̂; Russians called them barabaras. These structures were long dwellings dug halfway into the ground and supported by wooden or whalebone frames with grass and sod roofs. Ulax̂ varied in shape and size. Typically, most were oval-shaped, 20-26 feet long, and 10-13 feet wide. Externally, houses appeared as a part of the landscape, looking like a grassy hill. The traditional way to enter these homes was through the roof via a ladder, although some ulax̂ would later be made with doors – a marker of Russian influence in the Aleutian Islands. In addition to permanent structures like ulax̂, Unangax̂ also occupied seasonal camps for purposes of hunting and gathering in prime locations during the height of subsistence seasons.

 

Among many other animals, seals were a critical part of Unangax̂ subsistence practices.

Museum of the Aleutians Photo

Unangax̂ Subsistence Practices

Hunting and Gathering

Subsistence – the traditional use of wild, renewable resources for food and handicraft products – was critical to pre-contact Unangax̂ people and remains an important part of Unangax̂ culture today. One of the reasons that subsistence is a foundational part of Unangax̂ culture is because it provides food by making use of the many marine resources of the Aleutian Islands.

In pre-contact Unangax̂ culture, hunting and gathering responsibilities were divided by sex. While women and children focused on collecting eggs, intertidal organisms, plants, and berries, men were responsible for hunting at sea. Hunting from a kayak, skilled Unangax̂ hunters would commonly target marine mammals like Steller sea lions, seals, sea otters, and whales. Whaling involved many rituals, with hunters carrying particular items or taking certain actions thought to increase the likelihood of a successful hunt; whale hunters’ wives also had important ritual responsibilities.

 

One of the most important Unangax̂ creations, the bidarky or iqyax, was well-known for its exceptional quality.

Museum of the Aleutians Photo

Transportation, Tools, and Clothes

A key practice of subsistence is putting every part of a harvested animal to use, and the Unangax̂ upheld this standard in creative, intelligent ways. One of the most important animals in Unangax̂ subsistence practices is the Steller sea lion; in addition to food, parts of sea lions were used to make boat covers, line and cord, oil, tools, fishhooks, boot soles, watertight containers, and material for clothing. Unangax̂ people are also known to be skilled basket makers, weaving fine baskets with intricate patterns out of grasses and other materials.

One of the most important tools made from subsistence materials was the Unangax̂ kayak, also known as a bidarky or iqyax. These vessels are well known for their high quality. Iqyax were made by stretching waterproof seal skin over a boat frame made from driftwood, bone, and/or sinew. Unangax̂ women used a waterproof stitch to seal the vessel. Long, narrow, and lightweight, these vessels were of the highest quality for hunting at sea.

The Aleutian Islands are known for extreme weather and lots of wind and rain. Unangax̂ people crafted fine clothing from subsistence materials to protect them from the elements: garments were commonly made from waterproof skin and gut. Ceremonial occasions called for special clothing which could incorporate puffin pelts or beaks as well as incorporate color through natural dyes. One iconic Aleut accessory is the bentwood hat: a highly decorative hat made from boiled and bent driftwood, decorated with paint, walrus ivory, and sea lion whiskers, and worn by hunters to shield the sun and provide spiritual connection while at sea. Learn more about the fine workmanship of bentwood hats and a revival of hat making in the Aleutians through the Smithsonian Learning Lab.

 

Cultural Practices

Dance

Unangam Axaa (Aleut Dance) serves many purposes: dances convey information, celebrate certain occasions, provide spiritual connections, and give life and movement to Unangax̂ culture. Unangax̂ wore elaborate traditional regalia while dancing, with certain worn pieces bringing extra information and meaning to their performance. Song, dance, and drumming help keep cultural practices alive and pass them on to future generations. Dance and music are a major part of practicing Unangax̂ culture in the Aleutian Islands today.

Ceremony and Religion

Unangax̂ culture is highly spiritual. Celebrations, ceremonies, and rituals are all important elements of Unangax̂ spirituality, typically practiced in the winter season. After subsistence activities for the year were complete, Unangax̂ performed ceremonies, dances, and songs to increase their chances of good subsistence yield in future years and seasons. Other celebrations also took place to mark social events like marriages.

 

References

• Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association: History
• Qawalangin Tribe: The Unangan
• Smithsonian Learning Lab: Unangax̂ Bentwood Hat Making
• Travel Alaska: Unangax̂ and Sugpiaq Culture