Alaska Native Heritage at Aleutian WWII National Historic Area

Pribilof villagers, here lining the railing of the USAT Delarof on the day of their departure (June 15, 1942), were evacuated with only a few hours notice and no idea of their ultimate destination.

National Archives 80 - G206194

The Aleutian WWII National Historic Area is located in the Aleutian Islands of southwest Alaska, the traditional homeland of the Unangax̂ people.
Master seafarers, superb artists, accomplished healers, and skilled hunters, the Unangax̂ people (Aleut) (History | Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association (apiai.org) have not only survived the fierce weather of the Bering Sea for over 10,000 years, they have thrived there, interacting with their unique environment to build a sophisticated maritime culture.

During and after World War II, the Unangax̂ faced many challenges. You can read about these Alaska Native Experiences - Aleutian Islands World War II National Historic Area (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov) - of the Attuans who were imprisoned in Japan (Attu Boy - Publications - Aleutian Islands World War II National Historic Area (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)), of residents living near Unalaska who were relocated to duration camps (Evacuation and Internment (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov), of the subsequent loss of their ancestral villages and of remembering in more recent times (The Beginning of Memory Project - Aleutian Islands World War II National Historic Area (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov) and Lost Villages of the Eastern Aleutians.

An Unangax̂ soldier from Unalaska died in WWII. Now his grave will be marked (After 77 Years Buried In Unmarked Grave, Unangax̂ WWII Soldier Will Receive Marker).

Visit the Ounalashka Corporation (Ounalashka Corporation – Unalaska, Alaska – A Real Estate Leasing and Development Company) the Alaska Native corporation which owns and manages the NPS Affiliated Aleutian WWII National Historic Area.

Visit the NPS Affiliated Area website at: Aleutian Islands World War II National Historic Area (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)

Discover more stories through the interviews and articles provided below.