Tanana

Tanana is a name used for several related places and peoples in interior Alaska. It is most commonly associated with the Tanana River, the Tanana people, and various institutions named after them.

Tanana River: The Tanana River is a major river in interior Alaska and a tributary of the Yukon River. It flows through the central interior and has long served as an artery for transportation, subsistence, and trade. The river’s banks form part of the traditional homeland of the Tanana people. In winter the river can freeze and provide a route for travel on ice, while spring floods influence the surrounding landscape and communities.

Tanana people: The Tanana are an Indigenous Athabaskan group of Alaska. Their traditional homeland lies along the Tanana River valley, and the people are divided into subgroups that include Upper Tanana and Lower Tanana. They historically engaged in hunting, gathering, fishing, and trading with neighboring groups, with social and cultural life adapted to the riverine environment.

Tanana language: Tanana is a Northern Athabaskan language with dialects attributed to the Upper Tanana and Lower Tanana branches. It is part of the broader Athabaskan language family, and there are ongoing efforts to document and revitalize the language among descendants and communities.

Tanana (settlement): The name is also used for a small rural community in Alaska named after the river. It has historical roots as a trading site and remains a locality tied to subsistence and regional activity.

Tanana Chiefs Conference: A regional consortium of Alaska Native tribes in the interior, formed to coordinate advocacy, health, education, and cultural preservation on behalf of member communities.