Iñupiat

The Iñupiat are a group of Alaska Native people living in the northern and northwestern regions of Alaska. The name Iñupiat means “the real people” in Iñupiaq. They are one of the Inuit peoples and belong to the broader Eskimo-Aleut language family. Traditionally, Iñupiat communities stretch along the Arctic coast from the Barrow region to Cape Prince of Wales, with a number of sizable settlements and many smaller villages.

The Iñupiaq language, or Iñupiatun, has several dialects and is part of the Inuit branch of the Eskimo-Aleut language family. Today, most speakers are bilingual in English, and there are active language preservation efforts in schools, media, and community programs to maintain its use.

Historically, Iñupiat subsisted on marine mammals such as bowhead whales, seals, and walrus, along with fish and caribou. Seasonal rounds tied hunting, gathering, and travel to the Arctic environment. They developed tools and crafts for the hunt, including kayaks and large umiaks, and produced items from bone, stone, and baleen. Social practices emphasized sharing and cooperation to ensure survival in harsh conditions.

In modern Alaska, Iñupiat communities participate in governance through tribal councils and regional corporations established by the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971, notably the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation. The largest Iñupiat community is Utqiaġvik (formerly Barrow), with other communities such as Nuiqsut, Point Hope, and Kotzebue continuing to maintain cultural traditions while adapting to contemporary life.