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A Way with Numbers
Introducing students to native populations using numbers.
Duration: 45 minutes
- 1 hour
Grade: 6th - 8th
Goal: Students will
learn about the various populations of Natives in Alaska.
By utilizing a table they will be able to answer questions
that are related to Alaska Natives and their use of marine
resources.
Objective: Students
will be able to…
- Identify the major Alaska Native
groups.
- Locate where these Native groups
are found on a map.
- Utilize a table and map to answer
questions and identify what types of natural resources
each group might use.
- Graph information presented in
a table.
Standards:
Mathematics: A-3, A-4, B-6, B-7, B-8, E-2, E-3
Geography: A-1, A-2, A-3, A-5, D-3, F-6
Materials:
Large map of Alaska which depicts traditional language territories.
These maps can be purchased through:
Alaska Native Language Center
Box 757680
Fairbanks, AK 99775
907-474-7874 (phone)
907-474-6586 (fax)
fyanlp@uaf.edu
Individual maps of Alaska for students to use
Colored pencils
Graph paper
Activities:
Students should research background information on the following
Native groups:
Aleut, Inupiaq, Tsimshian, Tlingit, Athabascan, Alutiiq,
Yup'ik, Haida, Eyak.
Go over the different regions in which these Native peoples
live. Which are found in coastal regions? Which live in
the interior? Once you have identified this, have students
color their maps to indicate where the various Native groups
are found.
1. Identify villages or
geographical areas where the Alaska SeaLife Center has retrieved
marine mammals for rehabilitation. Mark these areas on your
maps.
2. Which groups would you expect to have a cultural tradition
of hunting marine mammals like walrus, seals, and sea lions
for food and fur?
The table below shows the various populations of Natives
that live in Alaska. Study the table and use it to help
you complete the questions below.
Numbers for this table
are based on 1990 US census results and University of Alaska
Fairbanks Language Lab. They include only those people still
living in traditional territories of the language speaking
area.
Alaskan Native Group Estimated Population
Aleut 2,000
Inupiaq 13,500
Eyak 50
Athabascans 6,385
Alutiiq 3,000
Yup'ik 22,100
Haida 600
Tsimshian 10,000
Questions:
1. Add up all of the populations in the table. What is the
total estimated native population in Alaska? ______________________
2. How many Alaska Native groups have populations of at
least 10,000 people?
________. Name those groups: ________________________________.
3. What is the fifth largest native population in Alaska?
_________________
4. The population difference between Inupiaqs and Athabascans
is ______________.
5. The population difference between ________________ and
_________________ is about 8,600.
6. Based on the numbers provided in the table and your map,
approximately how many people in Alaska may have a cultural
tradition of hunting marine mammals? _________________
Use graph paper to create
a graph of the information. What type of graph would be
most appropriate?
