Indigenous Day: A Brief Look At Named Places In Ahtna Country & The Historians Who Catalogued Them

INDIGENOUS PEOPLE'S DAY IN THE COPPER RIVER VALLEY

Ahtna People Identified & Named Thousands Of Places, All Over The Copper Valley, Before They Passed... So History Wouldn't Be Forgotten.   

This map of Native place names identified and catalogued by local Ahtna historians was on display at the Palmer Visitor Center. Although Chickaloon is technically in Palmer and now part of CIRI, it is an Ahtna-speaking village. (Photo by Country Journal, archives) 

Who Were These Ordinary Citizens – Native Historians – Who Shared These Names & Locations For The Future? 

They included Jim McKinley, John Shaginoff of Chickaloon, Frank Stickwan, Jim Tyone, Fred John, Jack John Justin, Frank Billum, Jake Tansy, Katie John, & Adam Sanford.

They told their stories to Jim Kari of the University of Alaska, for the record. 

_____________________________

 COPPER RIVER JOURNAL ARCHIVES 

HISTORIANS WHO SAVED THE NAMES OF PLACES THEY KNEW AS CHILDREN 

 Photos by the Copper River Country Journal

From The Journal Photo Archives & Film Contact Sheets  

Jim McKinley 

Frank Stickwan 

Jim Tyone

Katie John

Jack Justin 

John Billum

Jake Tansy 

Adam Sanford