Although it’s been thousands of years since our people first inhabited the Kenai Peninsula, we continue to recognize, honor and preserve traditional Kahtnuht’ana Dena’ina culture.
Four beliefs and principles – family, stewardship, spiritual belief and education – define our people and will assure our future as a tribe. Additionally, we recognize 16 values on the Kenaitze Indian Tribe Traditional Values Circle. Translated from Dena’ina to English, those value are:
- Ts’itsatna – “ancestors”
- Yinihugheltani – “one’s spirit”
- Qiz’unch’ – “the right way, the truth”
- Ada – “care, concern, tenderness”
- Nadesnaqa – “our Elders”
- Nagh’utdalts’ina – “our neighbors”
- Ch’anikna – “children”
- Nanutset – “our history, before our time”
- Nakenagh – “background, lineage”
- Henu – “work, job, task”
- Nudnelyahich’u qeneshi – “plants and animals”
- Daggeyi – “fellowship”
- Ey’uhqats’dalts’iyi – “subsistence, living upon the outdoors”
- Na’ini – “strength, courage, sobriety, humility”
- Naghet’a – “our honesty”
- Chiqinik – “thank you”
We hope these values and principles help you understand who we are and what we strive to represent through our many programs and services.
