The Ahtna are an Athabascan people of the Copper River region of southern Alaska, in a homeland they call Atna Nenn’. The name comes from the local name for the Copper River. About 1,427 people are counted, all in Alaska, and about 80 are believed to speak the Ahtna language. Their closest linguistic relatives are the Dena’ina to the west [1].
| Homeland | Copper River, southern Alaska (Atna Nenn’) |
|---|---|
| Population | About 1,427 |
| Language | Ahtna (Athabascan); about 80 speakers |
| Dialects | Lower, Middle, Upper, Western |
| ANCSA corporation | Ahtna, Inc. (1971) |
| Corporation land | About 714,240 acres |
Homeland
The Ahtna live in the Copper River area of southern Alaska. The name Ahtna comes from the local name for the Copper River [1].
Language
Ahtna is an Athabascan language, and about 80 people are believed to still speak it. James Kari published a dictionary in 1990, and the Ahtna later published a noun dictionary in 1998, revised in 2011. The page describes four main dialect divisions, Lower, Middle, Upper and Western, and eight historic regional bands [1].
Communities
Present-day communities include Chitina, Kluti Kaah, Gulkana, Gakona, Tazlina, Cantwell, Chistochina and Mentasta [1].
Subsistence
Traditional hunting targeted moose, caribou, mountain sheep and rabbits. Salmon was a staple, caught with nets in rivers and streams [1].
Ahtna, Inc.
Ahtna, Inc. was formed in 1971 under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act as a for-profit corporation that manages the land the Ahtna received under the act, about 714,240 acres [1]. See the entry on Alaska Native village corporations.
Related Peoples
The Ahtna are one of the Athabascan peoples described in the entry on the Alaska Athabaskan peoples, and their language is closest to Dena’ina [1].
FAQs
Who are the Ahtna? An Athabascan people of the Copper River region of southern Alaska.
How many Ahtna speakers are there? About 80.
What did the Ahtna traditionally eat? Salmon, moose, caribou, mountain sheep and rabbits.
What is Ahtna, Inc.? The Alaska Native regional corporation formed in 1971 under ANCSA.
Where do the Ahtna live today? In communities such as Chitina, Gulkana, Gakona, Tazlina and Mentasta.
Sources
More in Anthropology
Key facts
Quick checkWhich river gives the Ahtna their name?Show answer
The Copper River
Sources
- Wikipedia. Ahtna. 2026 (accessed 2026-11-12)
Editorially reviewed by Specialty Digest Editorial TeamLast reviewed November 12, 2026Researched and drafted with AI assistanceReport an issue