What is the difference between the Alutiiq people and the Aleut people?
During the historic era, Russian fur hunters called all of the Native people they encountered in southwestern Alaska “Aleut” – despite regional differences in language, cultural practices and histories. “Aleut” is derived from a Siberian Native language, and means coastal dweller – a person who makes their living from the sea. The name “Alutiiq” is itself derived from “Aleut”. Despite this situation, the word Aleut remains a popular self-designator both in the Aleutian Islands and south central Alaska. Many elders prefer this familiar term – as it is the one they were raised with. Others have chosen to use traditional self-designators for their people – “Unangan” in the Aleutians, and “Sugpiaq” or “Alutiiq” in the central Gulf.
