Overview of Dena'ina Athabascan
Dena'ina (formerly spelled Tanaina) is an Athabascan languages spoken in the Cook Inlet region. Dena'ina is unique in that it is the only Alaska Athabascan language spoken in the coastal region. It is also the only Athabascan language which is spoken on both sides of the Alaska Range. Linguist James Kari has done extensive research with the Dena'ina language since 1972, and many talented speakers have contributed to the documentation effort. Notable among these are Shem Pete, a gifted orator, and Peter Kalifornsky, the most prolific Alaska Native language author of the twentieth century.
There are four major Dena'ina dialect groupings.
| dialect | villages |
|---|---|
| Upper Inlet | Eklutna, Knik, Susitna, Tyonek |
| Outer Inlet | Kenai, Kustatan, Seldovia |
| Iliamna | Pedro Bay, Old Iliamna, Lake Iliamna area |
| Inland | Nondalton, Lime Village |
In addition to the the Dena'ina resources available in the Archive, many resources can also be accessed via the Dena'ina Qenaga web portal.