Beliefs

Like all Alaskan Natives, Athabaskans had animistic belief systems. Animism is the religious belief that all creatures and some inanimate objects have active and powerful spirits. Based on this belief in animal spirits, Athabaskans had very defined rules people had to follow in dealing with animals. If animal spirits were offended, they might avoid people, making hunting and fishing poor and possibly leading to starvation.  

The Athabaskans believed that, at one time, animals and people spoke a common language and shared a common society. Thus, animals had spirits that had to be treated with deference and respect. Most Athabaskan groups believed that Raven created the world. According to an Upper Tanana Athabaskan story, Raven created the Earth by bringing rocks from a sea and building an island where mountains and forests emerged. In a Koyukon Athabaskan story, Denali was created when Raven's spear struck a huge wave and turned it into rock.

Next Page

To navigate through the textbook, click on the next page button or go to the navigation menu on the top left.