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People group profile · PG043512

The Ahtna of the United States

The Ahtna of the United States, numbering about 650 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are an Athabaskan-speaking Indigenous people of Southcentral Alaska, whose traditional homeland centers around the Copper River Basin.

They are an indigenous people in the North American Indigenous people cluster of the North American Peoples. Their primary religion is Protestantism, and they primarily speak English.

Pray for the AhtnaPrint profile

AI-generated illustration representing the Ahtna people
AI-generated illustration, not a photograph. Photo by Google. (2025). Image generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash: Ahtna

Fast facts

Country
United States
Population
650
Affinity group
American Peoples
People cluster
North American Indigenous
Primary language
English (eng)
Primary religion
Protestantism
Strategic Progress Index ?
No Longer Unreached
Evangelical
2% or Greater but Less than 5%
GSEC ?
2% or Greater but Less than 5% Evangelical
Lostness priority ?
Minimally Reached People Group
Also known as
Ahtena, Copper Indians, Copper River Indians
Region
Northern America, Americas
Location
Alaska: Cantwell, Chickaloon, and Copper river above Eyak river mouth, upper Susitna and Nenana drainages, 8 total communities; Washington state

Where they live

Gospel status

The Ahtna are No Longer Unreached, which means 2% or more are evangelical Christians. In GSEC terms, this people group is greater than or equal to 2% evangelical.

  • Congregations exist No
  • Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted

Next steps for the Ahtna

  • Pray for the churches among this group to grow in faithfulness and maturity
  • Equip believers to reach the unreached peoples around them
  • Send out laborers from this people to the nations

Primary religion

Protestantism · Christianity

Primary language

English

100% speak English

Gospel resources in English

  • Bible available
  • JESUS Film available
  • Radio programs available
  • Gospel recordings available
  • Audio resources available
  • Bible stories available

Films

  • JESUS (English, North American Indigenous)

Bibles

Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.

Pray for the Ahtna

  1. Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.
  2. Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
  3. Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.
  4. 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.

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