Dena'ina

American  

[duh-nahy-nuh] / dəˈnaɪ nə /

noun

plural

Dena'inas,

plural

Dena'ina

1. a member of an Indigenous Athabascan people of the Cook Inlet area of Alaska.

2. the Athabascan language of the Dena'ina.

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adjective

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

Etymology

Origin of Dena'ina

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

Besides Redington, the two mushers chasing him to Nome are also Alaska Natives, Pete Kaiser, who is Yup’ik and won the 2019 Iditarod, and Richie Diehl, who is Dena’ina Athbascan.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 14, 2023

Peltola was swarmed by supporters as she walked through the hallways of the Dena’ina Center in Anchorage.

From Washington Post • Oct. 24, 2022

Kristen Hillman during remarks to a banquet hall filled with attendees at the downtown Anchorage Dena’ina Center.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 8, 2022

Eklutna is a Dena’ina village, the sole Alaska Native community within the municipality of Anchorage.

From Washington Times • Jul. 26, 2020

Pages 126 and 127 of Tanaina Plantlore describe a plant that is called wild potato by the Dena’ina Indians, who harvested its carrotlike root.

From "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer