Deg Xitʼan

Deg Xitʼan (also called Deg Hitʼan, Deg Hitan, Degexitʼan, or Kaiyuhkhotana) is a group of Athabaskan peoples living in Alaska. They speak a language called Deg Xinag. Their communities are found along the Anvik River in Anvik, the Innoko River in Shageluk, and at Holy Cross along the lower Yukon River.

The Deg Hitʼan are part of three recognized Alaska Native tribes: Anvik Village, Shageluk Native Village, and Holy Cross Village. Long before the famous Iditarod Trail existed, these trails were used by the Deg Hitʼan people, along with the Dena'ina and Inupiaq peoples.

They share their land with other nearby groups, including the Yup'ik to the west and south, the Holikachuk to the north, the Upper Kuskokwim to the north and east, and the Dena'ina to the south.

Name

The Deg Xitʼan are an Athabaskan group in Alaska. They call themselves Deg Xitʼan for the people and Deg Xinag for their language. Sometimes, people also use the names Deg Hitʼan or Deg Xitʼan when talking about their language in English.

An older name for them is Ingalik, which comes from the Yupʼik word meaning "traditionally Athabaskan." This name is not preferred by the Deg Hitʼan and can be upsetting. Older books may use names like Anvik-Shageluk Ingalik or McGrath Ingalik to refer to them.