Eyak people

Eyak

Pre-contact distribution of Eyak
Regions with significant populations
United States ( Alaska)	428
Languages
English, Eyak (before 2008)
Religion
Christianity
Related ethnic groups
Tlingit, Ahtna, Chugach Sugpiaq

The Eyak (Eyak: ʔi·ya·ɢdəlahɢəyu·, literally "inhabitants of Eyak Village at Mile 6") are a Native American indigenous group traditionally located on the Copper River Delta and near the town of Cordova, Alaska.

The Eyak's territory reached from present day Cordova east to the Martin River and north to Miles Glacier.

There were four main villages:

In addition to these villages the Eyak would seasonally occupy fish camps at Point Whitshed and Mountain Slough.

The Eyak initially moved out of the interior down the Copper River to the coast. There they harvested the rich salmon fishing grounds. When the Russians arrived they recognized the Eyak as a distinct culture and described their territory on their maps. They also traded with the Eyak and sent them missionaries. Because of their small population they were often raided and their territory boundaries were under pressure from the Chugach to the west. The Tlingit, on the east side, had better relations with the Eyak and this led to intermarriage and assimilation of many Eyak. This pushed the Eyak's territorial boundary further west and contributed to the Eyak's decline. When the Americans arrived they started canneries and competed with the Eyak for salmon. This combined with integration with, and novel diseases introduced by non-native settlers led to the further decline of the Eyak. As populations decreased the remaining Eyak began to congregate near the village of Orca. In 1880 the population of the village of Alaganik was recorded at 117 and by 1890 it had declined to 48. In 1900 total population was estimated at 60. As more settlers arrived this last village became the town of Cordova. As of 1996 there were 120 living, partial Eyak descendents. The last full blood Eyak, Marie Smith Jones, died on January 21, 2008.