Are the Inuit from Alaska considered to be Native?
Thanks for your question! I had to check with my friends from Alaska on this one. “Inuit” is a term used to describe culturally similar groups of people all across the Arctic, Alaska included. Inuit people live in the northern areas of Greenland, Canada, Russia, too. Yes, the Inuit people in Alaska are Native! The Iñupiat and Yup’ik people would be the Inuit people in Alaska. Generally, the preferred name would be “Iñupiat” or “Yup’ik” instead of Inuit.
Couple other things: Iñupiat and Yup’ik people identify themselves as “Eskimo,” so usually it’s okay to use this term in Alaska. (One can say “Iñupiat Eskmo” or “Yup’ik Eskimo”). However, in other places such as Canada and Greenland, this term can be derogatory and not preferred.
I hope this answers your question!
Take care,
Auntie Amanda
