Upper Tanana

Indigenous Language Map - Upper Tanana

Upper Tanana Athabascan is spoken mainly in the Alaska villages of Northway, Tetlin, and Tok, but has a small population also across the border in Canada. The indigenous name for the language is Nee'aaneegn'. During the 1960s, Paul Milanowski established a writing system, and he worked with Alfred John to produce several booklets and a school dictionary for use in bilingual programs. James Kari recorded and transcribed a  by Mary Tyone in 1996.


Common Expressions

maasee' thank you
betlanh my friend
do'eent'aa? hello (how are you?)

  •  materials on Upper Tanana.  YNLC supports YFNs with language revitalization by providing training, capacity building, technical expertise, advocacy and being a central repository for all to access and use.

  • UAF Newsroom article on postdoctoral fellow Olga Lovick's work with Upper Tanana