Dena'ina

[ duh-nahy-nuh ]

noun

, plural De·na'i·nas, (especially collectively) De·na'i·na

1. a member of an Indigenous Athabascan people of the Cook Inlet area of Alaska.
2. the Athabascan language of the Dena'ina.

adjective

1. of or relating to the Dena'ina or their language.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Dena'ina¹

First recorded in 2010–15; from Dena'ina (Inland Dialect); literally, “the people,” equivalent to dena “person” + ina the human plural marker, a self-designation; Diné ( def )

Example Sentences

The Dena’ina Athabascan tribe supports the restoration and some tribal members turned out on a recent October day to watch the removal of the bell tower and to reminisce.

From Seattle Times

“There’s a long history of the Dena’ina, in Eklutna in particular, taking care of the church and trying to maintain it,” said Aaron Leggett, president and chairman of the Native Village of Eklutna’s tribal council.

From Seattle Times

Unique among them is the old Eklutna church, where graves incorporate religious conventions like Orthodox crosses, which have three cross beams with the lowest slanted, with the Dena’ina Athabascan tradition of building spirit homes above graves where the deceased person’s spirit can reside.

From Seattle Times

“The reality is there is no place to send these people because this is their land. Any policy that we make has to pay credence to that simple fact. This is Dena’ina land, this is Native land,” said Christopher Constant, chair of the Anchorage Assembly.

From Washington Times

“The reality is there is no place to send these people because this is their land. Any policy that we make has to pay credence to that simple fact. This is Dena’ina land, this is Native land,” said Christopher Constant, chair of the Anchorage Assembly.

From Seattle Times