Aleut

Aleut, native of the Aleutian Islands and western Alaska. Descended from an Eskimo people, Aleuts have their own language. Traditionally, Aleuts hunted land animals, such as caribou and bear, and sea animals, such as whales and seals. They traveled in skin-covered kayaks, made spears and fishhooks, and dressed in parkas made from animal furs and skins. Under Russian domination, which began in the 18th century, the Aleutian population dropped dramatically, dropping further with Japanese occupation of the Aleutians during World War II. Through the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of the U.S. Congress (1971), the Aleuts won the rights to their homeland.