Native Village of Afognak facts for kids

The Native Village of Afognak is a group of Alutiiq Alaska Native people. They are officially recognized by the government. They originally lived on Afognak Island in Alaska.

The Great Alaska Earthquake

A very strong earthquake, known as the Good Friday earthquake, hit Alaska in 1964. This earthquake forced the people of the village of Ag’waneq on Afognak Island to move. Many survivors moved to a new village called Port Lions. This new village was named after the Lions Club, which helped build it. However, many people also moved to Kodiak or other places in the United States or Canada.

A Look at Afognak History

The Alutiiq people have lived in the Kodiak Archipelago for over 7,500 years. In the late 1700s, the Russian-American Company made many island men hunt otter. This was a difficult time for the Alutiiq. A smallpox sickness in 1837 also caused many problems. Because of these hardships, Russia started to protect the Native people more. They created special villages, and Afognak was one of them.

The village of Afognak was actually a mix of two older villages. These were known as Russian Town and Aleut Town. They came together as the two groups spent more time with each other.

Alaska Becomes Part of the U.S.

Many Native traditions changed in 1867. This was when Alaska was bought by the United States.

From the time Alaska was purchased until it became a state in 1959, life was hard for the Village of Afognak. Commercial fishing made it difficult for locals to find food. Jobs were also often very poor.

Official Government Recognition

In 1971, a law called the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act was passed. This law created thirteen large regional companies. It also recognized many "Native Village Corporations" as official tribal groups. The Native Village of Afognak is one of these officially recognized tribes.

The main regional company for this area is Koniag, Inc. Many members of the Native Village of Afognak also own shares in a local village company called Afognak Native Corporation. Koniag, Inc. and Afognak Native Corporation are separate legal groups.

The Tribal Council

The tribal council of the Native Village of Afognak has seven elected members. Each member serves for three years. This council is the official group that leads the tribe. They also manage cultural and land resources. Their work helps to keep the Alutiiq cultural traditions alive.

Discovering the Past: Archeology

In 1994, the Afognak Native Corporation started a tourism program called "Dig Afognak". This program let visitors help with archaeological excavations. They dug at the old Afognak island village of Ag’waneq. In 1998, the Bureau of Indian Affairs gave money to this project. This money helped collect and save historical information from the dig. It also helped gather stories from the community's Elders.