Deg Xitʼan
Deg Xitʼan, also known as Ingalik, is an Indigenous group primarily located along the Yukon and lower Innoko Rivers in Alaska. This Athabaskan-speaking tribe historically relied on a diverse diet composed mainly of fish, which played a significant role in their social structure and wealth. They established permanent winter villages featuring semi-subterranean houses, while also utilizing temporary camps during the spring and summer for hunting, trapping, and gathering. The Deg Xitʼan engaged in various ceremonies, including the potlatch, which facilitated food redistribution and reinforced community bonds.
European contact began in 1832 with Russian fur traders, who introduced the Russian Orthodox faith as well as diseases that severely impacted the population. Subsequent missionary efforts established schools and churches, further influencing the tribe's culture. By the early 20th century, significant intermarriage with non-Deg Xitʼan communities led to a decline in traditional cultural practices. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, there were an estimated 747 individuals of Deg Xitʼan descent, although more recent estimates suggest a population closer to 250 in the mid-2020s. Today, many members engage in local employment, especially in fishing and hunting guiding, while a few traditional crafts have been preserved.
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Deg Xitʼan
- CATEGORY: Tribe
- CULTURE AREA: Subarctic
- LANGUAGE GROUP: Athabaskan
- PRIMARY LOCATION: Yukon and lower Innoko Rivers, Alaska
- POPULATION SIZE: 747 (2010 US Census Bureau estimate); 250 (Alaska Native Language Center)
The Deg Xitʼan, sometimes referred to as Ingalik, were divided into two groups, the Yukon and Kuskokwim; both intermarried with contiguous Eskimo populations. Their dependence upon fish was reflected in rank, technology, and wealth. The Deg Xitʼan had permanent winter villages of semi-subterranean houses and temporary spring and summer camps to exploit a diversified food source through fishing, hunting, trapping, and limited gathering. The potlatch was one of seven major ceremonies involving the redistribution of food, change of status, and promotion of group integration.
Russian fur traders and explorers established the first European American contact with the Deg Xitʼan in 1832, introducing the Russian Orthodox faith and—unfortunately—epidemics of smallpox. Some village populations were reduced by half. The Episcopalians, in 1887, and the Roman Catholics, in 1888, established churches and boarding schools. By 1900, the traditional Deg Xitʼan culture had met its demise through intermarriage with non-Deg Xitʼan peoples.
In the twenty-first century, little of the traditional culture remained. Some baskets of hide and birchbark and some woodworking had been passed down through generations. Employment was mostly with local resources, particularly as fishing and hunting guides. Some regional government work was available, and utility companies provided seasonal work. In the early 1990s, the Deg Xitʼan population was estimated to be between 600 and 650. By surveying the villages where the Deg Xitʼan populated in the 2010 US Census, estimates were put at 747 remaining people of Deg Xitʼan descent. Members of the Deg Xitʼan people were part of the recognized Alaska Native Tribes of Anvik Village, Shageluk Native Village, and Holy Cross Village. They mainly lived in the villages of Grayling, Anvik, Shageluk, and Holy Cross along the lower Yukon River in Alaska. Although exact populations following the 2010 census were hard to calculate, the Alaska Native Language Center placed their population around 250 in the mid-2020s.
Bibliography
"Deg Xit’an Ngan’ (Deg Xit’an)." Native Land Digital, 31 July 2022, native-land.ca/maps/territories/deg-hitan. Accessed 28 Oct. 2024.
"Languages - Deg Xinag - Alaska Native Language Center." University of Alaska Fairbanks, www.uaf.edu/anlc/languages-move/degxinag.php. Accessed 28 Oct. 2024.
"Map of Federally Recognized Tribes in Alaska." U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, www.fws.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Map-Federally-Recognized-Tribes-In-Alaska.pdf. Accessed 28 Oct. 2024.
"Religion and Expressive Culture - Ingalik." World Culture Encyclopedia, www.everyculture.com/North-America/Ingalik-Religion-and-Expressive-Culture.html. Accessed 28 Oct. 2024.