The Aleut people are indigenous inhabitants of the Aleutian Islands, a chain of islands stretching from the southwestern coast of Alaska to the eastern tip of Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula. They are considered to be part of the larger Eskimo-Aleut language family and share linguistic and cultural similarities with the Inuit and Yupik peoples of Alaska and Canada.
Traditionally, the Aleut people relied on the abundant marine resources of the region, particularly sea mammals, fish, and shellfish, for sustenance and for creating various items of material culture. They developed sophisticated hunting and fishing techniques, utilizing kayaks and harpoons for hunting sea mammals like seals and sea otters.
Historically, the Aleut people lived in small, semi-subterranean dwellings called barabaras, constructed from earth and sod with an entrance tunnel leading into the main living area. These dwellings were clustered into larger communities or villages, providing a communal and cooperative way of life where activities such as hunting, fishing, and processing food were often carried out collectively.
European contact, particularly by Russian explorers and fur traders in the 18th century, brought significant changes to the Aleut way of life. Epidemics and forced labor in fur seal and sea otter hunting disrupted their communities, causing immense suffering and a decline in the population. In the modern era, the Aleut people persist as a resilient and adaptive indigenous community, with efforts to preserve their cultural heritage and traditional practices.
Today, the Aleut people are organized into federally recognized tribes in Alaska, such as the Aleut Community of St. Paul Island, the Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association, and the Aleut Corporation. They continue to maintain their unique cultural identity while also embracing modern influences and participating in economic and social development.
