Athabascan: People of the Boreal Forest

The Athabascan people call them selves Den'a -"the people''. They are the people of the boreal forest , the interior of Alaska. They speak eleven different languages. Each band had its own territory,that was divided among several small localized bands consisting mainly of extended families. The Den'a see a unity in the human, natural,and spiritual worlds; in both the seen and unseen worlds,all things have a spirit, and everything is connected. In the Athabascan culture,when a person dies, the whole Village comes together to grieve with the family and friends of the deceased. After the person is laid to rest, a strong spiritual connection is maintained through water, food, song, and dance as the Den'a prepare to free the yega or spirit for its next journey in the Den'a life cycle.

All of the materials that the Athabascan used were made from natural resources, animals and plants, found in their environment. Birch was used for baskets , canoes, and tools. Moose and caribou hide were used for shelter and clothing. Animal bones and antlers were used for tools.

The Athabascan people were nomads who never stayed in one place too long because they followed the caribou herds and the fish. So the things they made had to be light so they could carry it with them.