Eskimo, Inupiatun Northwest Alaska in United States

Introduction / History

The Inupiatun dialect group is spoken by the Inupiat of north and northwest Alaska; it is part of the Inuit branch of the Eskimo–Aleut language family and includes several regional dialects historically used across the North Slope, Northwest Arctic, Seward Peninsula and Bering Strait regions.

The ancestors of the Inupiat have lived in the North for many centuries, developing a culture closely adapted to Arctic environments. Contact with Russians, Euro-American whalers and later U.S. government institutions in the 18th–20th centuries brought major social change, schooling in English, missions, and pressures that reduced intergenerational language transmission; in recent decades there have been active community efforts to revitalize Inupiaq languages and alphabets.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Many Inupiat people live in small villages and towns across Alaska's North Slope and Northwest Arctic regions where daily life blends traditional subsistence activities with participation in the modern cash economy. Subsistence hunting, fishing and gathering—harvesting whales, seals, fish, caribou, birds and seasonal plants—remain central to food security, cultural identity, and social relations, while wage employment, public services and education are important in regional hubs. Geographic isolation, high living costs, and climate impacts on sea-ice and wildlife patterns shape both challenges and adaptations in community life.

Communities place high value on intergenerational roles, sharing of food, ceremonial gatherings, and local knowledge (including navigation on sea ice and ice-edge hunting). Younger generations increasingly pursue higher education and jobs outside their home villages, which creates opportunities but also raises concerns about language loss and cultural continuity.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Traditional Inupiat spiritual systems emphasized animism, respect for animal and natural spirits, and the role of specialist healers or shamans in mediating between the human and spirit worlds. With missionary activity (Orthodox, Moravian and later Protestant missions) many Inupiat adopted Christianity while often maintaining elements of traditional belief and practice; contemporary religiosity ranges from traditional spiritual practice to Christian (Orthodox and Protestant) adherence, to syncretic blends of both.

What Are Their Needs?

The Inupiat communities face a blend of practical, cultural, and deeply spiritual needs that shape their long-term wellbeing. A central longing is for continued support in revitalizing their language and heritage, so that Inupiaq dialects, oral histories, and traditional skills can be passed to younger generations in ways that are meaningful within community life.

There is also a strong need for holistic healthcare that recognizes the deep connections between body, mind, and spirit. Healing from substance misuse, historical trauma, and the emotional weight of rapid social change requires care that is both compassionate and culturally grounded.

Above all, the Inupiat people need sensitive, relational gospel ministry that honors their God-given identity and cultural wisdom. Such ministry listens before it teaches, uplifts elders and local leaders, and encourages community-led renewal rather than imposing outside forms. When the message of Christ is shared in a way that values the Inupiat heart and heritage, true transformation can take root—bringing restoration, unity, and enduring spiritual hope in Christ.

Prayer Points

Pray for spiritual renewal and a commitment to biblical truth among the Inupiat people.
Pray for a faithful and complete translation of the Bible in the Northwest Alaska Inupiatun language.
Pray for more resources to be translated and easily available for discipleship and outreach, including the JESUS Film.
Pray for the Inupiat believers to have hearts of compassion for every soul and dedicate their lives to the gospel ministry.
Pray for a spiritual revival among the Inupiat people, that they would turn to Jesus Christ by faith, the true mediator between man and God.
Finally, pray that the Inupiat people would turn from syncretic religion and find their true identity and fullness in a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Text Source:   Joshua Project