Aleut

The Aleut are Native Americans from the Aleutian Islands. They live in Alaska and Russia. Their traditional clothes were made from the skins of sea lions, seals, sea otters, and birds.

Language

The Aleut speak the Aleut language, which they call Unangam Tunuu. However, most of them don't speak it well nowadays. Many speak English and Russian.

Contact with Russians

In the 18th century, Russians came to Alaska. The Russians taught the Aleut about their religion, the Russian Orthodox version of Christianity. They also traded furs with them.

California

The Aleut killed many members of the Nicoleño Tribe in California during a conflict.

Housing

The Aleut lived in special houses called barabara. It was partly underground to protect them from the elements.

Food

The Aleut hunted many sea creatures for food and their furs. They also liked to eat berries.

Aleut Media

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  Illustration of men's and women's dress, Aleutian Islands, ca. 1820.

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  Map of Aleut tribes and dialects

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  Settlement of Aleuts in the Far Eastern Federal District by urban and rural settlements in%, 2010 census

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  Aleut in Festival Dress in Alaska, watercolor by Mikhail Tikhanov, 1818

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  Aleuts. Ethnographic description of the peoples of the Russian Empire by Gustav-Fyodor Khristianovich Pauli (1862)

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  Men's chagudax, or bentwood hunting visor, Arvid Adolf Etholén collection, Museum of Cultures, Helsinki, Finland

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  Unknown Aleut artist, sea lyme grass basket and lid embellished with wool embroidery, early 20th century, Brooklyn Museum

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  WeibundMannvonUnalaschkainihrenFeierkleidern

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  Replica of the sax, an Aleut coat made from bird skins and sea otter fur

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  A Kamleika, or sea mammal intestine coat.