The first Alaskan people of the Kenai Peninsula
and Seward area: The Seward Natives were the Chugach people
of the Kenai Peninsula. According to their own tradition, originated somewhere
north of Kodiak Island, and traveled here by kayak's. They are classified
as Eskimos by anthropologists. Although many Chugachs say they are Aleut
people.Eskimos, Aleuts and Indians traded in Prince Willian Sound.
Many villages were abandoned during the Russian period. As the Native
peoples moved closer to Russian settlements, and hunted for the Russians.
The Russians used the Aleutian Islanders as hunters for the fur trade.
The pelts of sea otters were greatly treasured at the Courts of Russia
and Europe. So the Aleutian Hunters were used for their great sea going
skills and hunting skills, to hunt sea otters and other fur bearing animals
for the Russian American Company.
Epidemics of smallpox and other diseases, of which the Alaskan Natives
had no resistance to, killed a large part of the Native populations, during
this time, of the coming of the Russians to Alaska.
After the U.S. purchased Alaska. Many native people moved to settlements
near fish canneries and coal mines. As there was work at these settlements
and the Native could also trade here. Reports from this time state as to
the wonderful carving skills of the natives of the area.
The Census of 1890 show a Chugach settlement at Aialik Bay near Seward.There
was also the village of Yaliq which was also near Seward. Seafood was the
staple for the Native people of the Seward area. They were good hunters
and fishermen and hunted, whales, sea lions, sea otters, and other seals
of the area. They were skilled in the use of the kayaks and used them for
hunting and trading trips.They used the skins of the sea creatures they
hunted for their kayak skin covering. The Chugach mane for themselves is
Chugachigmiut.
Sources: "Seward Alaska A history of the Gateway City" by Mary Barry
"Alaska a History of the Forty Ninth State" by Claus M Naske and Herman
E Slotnick |
