Native American prehistory—Subarctic
Native American prehistory in the Subarctic region encompasses the diverse cultures and lifeways of groups that inhabited this area, primarily characterized by their adaptations to a harsh environment. It is believed that early inhabitants migrated from Siberia to Alaska via the land bridge known as Beringia during the last Ice Age, with significant migration events occurring between 25,000 and 10,000 years ago. Among these early migrants, the Athapaskan language family emerged as the most widespread, with connections to languages spoken in the American Southwest, while Eskimo languages displayed remarkable similarities across regions from Alaska to Greenland.
The prehistory of the Subarctic extends into the late nineteenth century, influenced by the arrival of European settlers during the gold rush, which profoundly impacted local cultures before they could be thoroughly documented. Traditional living arrangements included igloos made of snow for the Eskimos and log cabins for the Athapaskans, reflecting their respective environments. Cultural practices included numerous tribal rituals, though much of this knowledge remains inaccessible to outsiders due to language barriers and cultural restrictions. Overall, the Subarctic region's prehistory illustrates a complex tapestry of human adaptation and cultural expression in a challenging landscape.
Native American prehistory—Subarctic
Date: c. 25,000 b.c.e.-c. 1700 c.e.
Location: Alaska, Canada, Greenland
Cultures affected: Aleut, Athapaskan, Eskimo (Inuit), Haida, Tlingit, Tsimshian
Determination of the lifeways and approximate dates of prehistoric cultures can be accomplished only through examination of archaeological sites and artifacts. Precisely dating the prehistory of the Subarctic is impossible. Considering the fact that many of the languages spoken in this area are related to those spoken in Siberia, however, it is generally believed that early Subarctic dwellers entered North America over the land bridge (beringia) that connected Siberia and Alaska, where the Bering Strait is now located, during the last Ice Age. There were at least two separate migrations, and probably three, during a period between 25,000 and 10,000 years ago.
The earliest migration probably involved the Athapaskan language family, as this language group is by far the most widespread and has apparently changed the most over time. The Athapaskan languages spoken in Alaska and Subarctic Canada are related to the Navajo and Apache languages of the American Southwest. Eskimos, on the other hand, have languages so similar that a native of Alaska can easily communicate with one of Greenland. A third group, completely unrelated to the other two, is the Northwest Coast Indians.
In a real sense, the prehistory of the Subarctic extends as late as the late nineteenth century, when whites were first attracted into Alaska and Yukon by the gold rush. Unfortunately, the cultures in the region were changed by the impact of white culture before they were thoroughly studied. Some of the more remote regions were never seen by white people until the mid-twentieth century, when air travel made it easier to visit any place on earth. Before this time, transport was primarily by boat in the summer and dog sled in the winter.
Prehistoric Eskimos and Aleuts lived in igloos, made of packed snow. The Athapaskans lived in log cabins quite similar to those built by others much farther south. There were a great number of tribal rituals, some of which are still practiced, but details are difficult to determine, because in most instances outsiders are barred from these rituals; moreover, they are held in native languages that few outsiders understand.