General Works on Athabaskan Languages
Krauss, Michael E. 1980. Alaska Native Languages: Past, Present,
and Future. Fairbanks: Alaska Native Language Center, Research Paper
Number 4. 110 pp. [Written for the general reader and for undergraduate
courses; surveys the distribution and relationships of Native languages,
their history since European contact, development of literacy and education
in them, their present status and possible futures. Highly recommended.
]
Krauss, Michael E. 1982. Native Peoples and Languages of Alaska.
Fairbanks: Alaska Native Language Center. [Full-color wall map with
populations, territories, and language status.]
Krauss, Michael E. and Mary Jane McGary. 1980. Alaska Native Languages:
A Bibliographical Catalogue. Part One: Indian Languages. Fairbanks:
Alaska Native Language Center, Research Paper Number 3. 455 pp. [Lists
and describes in detail virtually all published and unpublished written
materials on Alaskan Indian languages through 1980, including educational
publications.]
Scollon, Ron and Suzanne Scollon. 1979. Interethnic Communication.
Fairbanks: Alaska Native Language Center. [Discussion for the general
reader of problems and solutions, especially in Athabaskan-White communication.]
Thompson, Chad, Melissa Axelrod, and Eliza Jones. 1983. Koyukon
Language Scope and Sequence (265 pp.); Koyukon Language Curriculum
Student Workbook (158 pp.); Koyukon Language Curriculum Lesson
Plans (89 pp.). Nenana: Yukon-Koyukuk School District. [First of
a series of coordinated materials presenting the teaching of Koyukon
Athabaskan as a second language for different grade levels. The Scope
and Sequence describes much of the grammar of Koyukon in terms understandable
to the informed general reader. This work and similar materials now
being developed should serve as models for curriculum development in
other Alaskan Athabaskan languages as well.]
Works on Athabaskan Culture
Frank, Ellen. 1983. K'okhethdeno De'on: Moving Around in the Old
Days. Fairbanks: Alaska Native Language Center. 40 pp. [Traditional
subsistence cycle of the Minto Tanana people; bilingual in Tanana and
English, with explanation of Tanana spelling system.]
Helm, June, editor. 1981. Subarctic. Volume 6, Handbook of
North American Indians. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution.
853 pp. [An indispensable reference on Alaskan and Canadian Athabaskans
and other American Indian groups, including articles on language, prehistory,
and various aspects of culture. Every Alaskan school should have a copy
of this work.]
Kari, James, Priscilla Russell Kari, and Jane McGary. 1982. Dena'ina
Elnena: Tanaina Country. Fairbanks: Alaska Native Language Center.
111 pp. [Geography and natural history of the Tanaina Athabaskan territory
around Cook Inlet, concentrating on Native use of resources; in English
with large Tanaina glossary and place-name lists.]
MacAlpine, Donna. 1980. A Woman of Anvik. McGrath: Iditarod
Area School District. 130 pp. [History, language, and culture of the
Deg Hit'an (Ingalik) Athabaskans, prepared for school use.]
Nelson, Richard K. 1973. Hunters of the Northern Forest: Designs
for Survival among the Alaskan Kutchin. Chicago: University of Chicago
Press. 339 pp. [A lively and fascinating account of modern Athabaskan
culture and subsistence techniques in northeastern Alaska.]
Nelson, Richard K. 1983. The Athabaskans: People of the Boreal Forest.
Fairbanks: University of Alaska Museum. 67 pp. [Introductory book
for the general reader and high school student, with many illustrations;
study guide available.]
Nelson, Richard K. 1983. Make Prayers to the Raven: A Koyukon View
of the Northern Forest. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. [A
detailed, excellent work on the modern culture of the Koyukon Athabaskans,
done in collaboration with many local experts.]
Simeone, William E. 1982. A History of Alaskan Athapaskans. Anchorage:
Alaska Historical Commission. 133 pp. [A brief but useful general survey
of important events and changes among Alaskan Athabaskans since European
contact.]
VanStone, James W. 1974. Athapaskan Adaptations: Hunters and Fishermen
of the Subarctic Forests. Arlington Heights, Ill.: AHM Publishing.
145 pp. [Surveys the traditional cultures of Alaskan and Canadian Athabaskan
peoples, with some comments on modern developments. A good introductory
text.]
Songs
Solomon, Madeline and Eliza Jones. 1978. Koyukon Athabaskan Dance
Songs. Anchorage: National Bilingual Materials Development Center.
45 pp. [19 songs with musical transcriptions and background information.]
Riddles
Dauenhauer, Richard. 1976. Riddle and Poetry Handbook. Anchorage.
Alaska Native Education Board. [General discussions of riddles and poetry
with examples from world traditions; written for teachers. Out of print
but should be made more generally available.]
Henry, Chief. 1976. K'ooltsaah Ts'in'. Koyukon Riddles. Fairbanks:
Alaska Native Language Center. 65 pp. [28 Koyukon riddles with translations
and introduction.]
Jette, Jules. 1913. "Riddles of the Ten'a Indians." Anthropos
8:181-201. [110 Koyukon riddles with translations and notes; discussion
of Koyukon riddling.]
Jones, Eliza. March 1983. Interview with Karen McPherson for KUAC-FM
series Chinook. Audio cassette available from University of Alaska
Fairbanks, Archives-Oral History Project. [Discussion of Koyukon riddles.]
Wassillie, Albert, Sr. 1980. K'ich'igi: Dena'ina Riddles. Anchorage:
National Bilingual Materials Development Center. [36 Tanaina riddles
with translations.]
Personal Narratives
Carlo, Poldine. n.d. Nulato, an Indian Life on the Yukon. Fairbanks.
[The autobiography of a Koyukon woman.]
Henry, Chief. 1979. Chief Henry Yugh Noholnigee: The Stories Chief
Henry Told. Transcribed and edited by Eliza Jones. Fairbanks: Alaska
Native Language Center. [Autobiographical accounts in Koyukon and English,
with introduction.]
Herbert, Belle. 1982. Shandaa: Iii My Lifetime. Edited by Bill
Pfisterer, transcribed and translated by Katherine Peter. Fairbanks:
Alaska Native Language Center. 210 pp. [Autobiographical, cultural,
and historical narratives by Alaska's then-oldest resident, in Gwich'in
and English, with introduction and notes.]
Peter, Katherine. 1981. Neets'aii Gwiindaii: Living in the Chandalar
Country. Fairbanks: Alaska Native Language Center. 147 pp. [Autobiography
of life in the 1940s, composed in writing, with English translation,
introduction.]
Peter, Katherine, editor. 1979. Elders Speak. Anchorage: National
Bilingual Materials Development Center. [Personal narratives and statements
by four Gwich'in elders, with English translations.]
Yukon-Koyukuk School District (publishers). Biography Series (separate
volumes): Henry Beatus Sr., Oscar Nictune, Joe Beetus, Moses Henzie,
Frank Kobuk, Madeline Solomon, Roger Dayton, Edwin Simon, John Honea,
Edgar Kallands, Josephine Roberts. [Biographies of important local
personages, from interviews with them.]
Traditional Stories
Attla, Catherine. 1983. Sitsiy Yugh NoholnikTs'in': As My Grandfather
Told It. Fairbanks: Alaska Native Language Center and Yukon-Koyukuk
School District. 255 pp. [Koyukon stories told in full traditional style,
with facing English translations and numerous notes.]
Billum, John and Mildred Buck. 1979. Atna' Yenida'a: Ahtna Stories.
Anchorage: National Bilingual Materials Development Center. 103
pp. [Traditional Ahtna stories with English translations, told for school
use.]
Chapman, John W. and James Kari, eds. 1981. Athabaskan Stories from
Anvik. Fairbanks: Alaska Native Language Center. 186 pp. [Traditional
stories recorded around the turn of the century and recently revised
with modern speakers of Deg Hit'an (Ingalik), with interlinear and free
English translations.]
Deaphon, Deacon and Betty Petruska. 1980. Nikolai Hwch'ihwzoya'.
Anchorage: National Bilingual Materials Development Center. 84 pp. [Traditional
stories from the Upper Kuskokwim Athabaskan people, with English translations.]
Fredson, John and Edward Sapir. 1982. John Fredson Edward Sapir
Haa Googwandak: Stories told by John Fredson to Edward Sapir. Fairbanks:
Alaska Native Language Center. 113 pp. [Gwich'in stories and autobiographical
and cultural accounts recorded in 1923, with English translations, introduction,
biography of Fredson.]
Krauss, Michael E., editor. 1982. In Honor of Eyak: The Art of Anna
Nelson Harry. Fairbanks: Alaska Native Language Center. 157 pp.
[Traditional stories, history, and oratory of the Eyak people, related
to the Athabaskans, with English translations and extensive introduction
and notes.]
Paul, Gaither and Ron Seollon. 1980. Stories, for My Grandchildren.
Fairbanks: Alaska Native Language Center. [Traditional historical
accounts and stories in Tanacross and English.]
Ridley, Ruth. 1983. Eagle Han Huch'inn Hodok. Han Athabaskan Stories
from Eagle. Fairbanks: Alaska Native Language Center. 37 pp. [Short
composed stories for children in Han and English.]
Tansy, Jake and Louise Tansy Mayo. 1982. Indian Stories: Hwtsaay
Hwt'aene Yenida'a. Anchorage: Materials Development Center. 89 pp.
[Traditional Ahtna stories with English translations.]
Tenenbaum, Joan M., editor. 1976. Dena'ina Sukdu'a. Four volumes.
Fairbanks: Alaska Native Language Center. [Traditional stories of the
Tanaina people of Nondalton, with interlinear and free English translations,
introduction.]
Wassillie, Albert. 1980. Nuvendaltun Ht'ana Sukdu'a. Nondalton People's
Stories. Anchorage: National Bilingual Materials Development Center.
50 pp. [Tanaina stories with English translations.]
Videotapes
Available from the Alaska State Film Library:
Profiles of Alaskans series: "Catherine Attla"; "Emmitt Peters";
"Thelma Saunders"
5th Annual BMEC: "Language Varieties: English Dialects and their Uses"
(Department of Education, Dr. Orlando Taylor)
Available from the Yukon-Koyrrkuk School District, Nenana:
Available from the Alaska Native Language Center:
Talking Alaska series: "The Priceless Heritage of Alaska's
Native Languages" (two videotapes); "Koyukon Athabaskan"; "Interethnic
Communication"; "Dena'ina Athabaskan"; "Gwich'in Athabaskan"
INSTITUTIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE
Alaska Historical Commission
Old City Hall
524 W. 5th Avenue, Suite 207
Anchorage, AK 99501
(Publications, conferences)
Alaska Native Language Center
302 Chapman
University of Alaska
Fairbanks, AK 99701
(Publications, consultation)
Alaska Pacific University Press
Alaska Pacific University
Anchorage, AK 99504
(Publications)
Alaska State Film Library
650 International Airport Road
Anchorage, AK 99502
Alaska State Library
Pouch G
Juneau, AK 99811
Alaska State Museum
Pouch FM
Juneau, AK 99811
(Traveling media kits, publications, traveling photographic exhibits)
Central Alaska Curriculum Consortium
314 Chapman
University of Alaska
Fairbanks, AK 99701
(Bibliographies, instructional support materials)
College of Human and Rural Development
University of Alaska
Fairbanks, AK 99701
(Consultation, instruction)
Fairbanks Native Association
Johnson-0'Malley Program
310-1/2 First Avenue
Fairbanks, AK 99701
(Publications)
Fairbanks North Star Borough School District
Indian Education Program
Box 1250
Fairbanks, AK 99707
Institute of Alaska Native Arts
P.O. Box 80583
Fairbanks, AK 99708
(Publications)
Materials Development Center
Rural Education, University of Alaska
2223 Spenard Road
Anchorage, AK 99503
(Publications)
University of Alaska Library, Archives
Oral History Project
Rasmuson Library
University of Alaska
Fairbanks, AK 99701
(Especially the KUAC Radio Chinook series.)
University of Alaska Museum
University of Alaska
Fairbanks, AK 99701
(Tours, publications, traveling photographic exhibits)
Yukon-Koyukuk School District
Media Center
P.O. Box 309
Nenana, AK 99760
(Han Zaadlitl'ee collection on Athabaskan languages and culture)