“Land is the gift of our ancestors and the guarantee of our right to continue our subsistence lifestyle. Land is the heart of our culture. Without land, we are nothing.”

– Harvey Samuelsen 1926 – 2004

“You can’t lose your culture as long as you are learning place names in your Native language.”

– Robert Charlie, Athabascan Elder

“Alaska’s place names should reflect and respect the rich cultural history of our state…”

– Alaska Governor Bill Walker, lauding the official recognition of the name Denali

Land Acknowledgement

We would like to recognize the Dena’ina Athabascan people of the Eklutna Native Village and Knik Tribal Council whose traditional homelands the Bristol Bay Native Corporation resides on here in Dena’ina Ełnena what we now call Anchorage or Dgheyaytnu (Daguy–kaq) or (Daguy-tnu) the Athabascan name for Anchorage. We recognize the thousands of years of stewardship and acknowledge the people of Dena’ina Ełnena as they continue to be the caretakers of the land and its resources.

Thank you to the Alutiiq/Sugpiaq, Dena’ina/Tanaina, and Yup’ik/Yupiaq peoples of Bristol Bay. We recognize the thousands of years of stewardship and acknowledge the people of the region as they continue to be the caretakers of the land. Quyana, Chin’an, Quyanaa!

Native Place Name

Iiyuussiiq: stream