Audio Archives

Learn by listening as you hear the Athabaskan language spoken by members of our community.

The digitized audio archive presented here is the result of recordings made by our Village founder, Doris Charles. These include items passed down to Doris Charles’s granddaughter and items originating from historical archive repositories at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and The American Philosophical Society.

In addition to the archival materials, we have recorded interviews with tribal members who speak fluent Athabaskan so our oral histories may preserved in our native language.

To keep our files secure and prevent them from being used by non-authorized entities, we have enabled measures to prevent them from being copied. If you would like to use any portion of these files, you must receive permission from the Dot Lake Village Council. Please send all requests in writing to council@dotlakevillage.org.

Collection Items

Audio Recording

Ahtna Vocabulary

Description: Recording with Jim McKinley, Copper Center, of Ahtna vocabulary.
Contributor: Courtesy: American Philosophical Society
Date: July 30, 1960.
Transcript Coming Soon

Audio Recording

Banzulnetas Billy’s Love Song

Description: Sung by Billy Maggie Joe, recorded at Copper Center, Alaska.
Contributor: Courtesy: American Philosophical Society
Date: July 21, 1968
Transcript Coming Soon

Audio Recording

Doris Charles Counting to 10 in Athabaskan

Description: Doris Charles counting from 1 through 10 in the Ahtna language.
Contributor: Tracy Charles-Smith
Date: 1990s
Transcript (TXT)

Audio Recording

Doris Charles’s Mourning Song for her Husband

Description: Doris Charles singing a mourning song after the loss of her husband. Recorded at Copper Center, Alaska.
Contributor: Courtesy: American Philosophical Society
Date: Aug. 17, 1968
Transcript (TXT)

Audio Recording

Doris Charles Tape 2 Side B

Description: Dot Lake Village founder Doris Charles telling how she grew up and what life was like in Tanacross. Recording in English.
Contributor: Tracy Charles-Smith
Date: 1990s
Transcript (TXT)

Audio Recording

Doris Charles Tape 5 Side A

Description: Doris Charles speaking.
Contributor: Tracy Charles-Smith
Date: 1990s
Transcript Coming Soon

Audio Recording

Irene Arnold Opening Prayer

Description: Irene Arnold presenting the opening prayer in Athabaskan at a meeting.
Contributor: Tracy Charles-Smith
Date: Jan. 14, 2024
Transcript: English

Audio Recording

Mrs. Banzulnetas Billy’s Phonograph Sorry Song for Her Daughter

Description: This song was made after the death of Billy Maggie Joe’s daughter, while listening to a phonograph record. Sung by Billy Maggie Joe, recorded at Chistochina Song Fest.
Contributor: Courtesy: American Philosophical Society
Date: Aug. 20, 1954
Transcript Coming Soon

Audio Recording

Mrs. Banzulnetas Billy’s Sorry Song for Her Daughter

Description: Sung by Billy Maggie Joe, recorded at Copper Center, Alaska.
Contributor: Courtesy: American Philosophical Society
Date: June 16, 1968.
Transcript Coming Soon