Albert Wassillie Sr.

Albert Wassillie Sr. was a Dena'ina Athabascan elder who was born and raised in Nondalton, Alaska. He grew up living a subsistence lifestyle and spent his life traveling the country around Nondalton, living off the land, camping, fishing, and trapping. He was an expert hunter and trapping, and was eager to share his knowldege of Dena'ina traditions and culture. He was fluent in his Dena'ina language and learned the Dena’ina practical orthography (writing system) and wrote down many traditional stories and language lessons. He published a number of children’s books and in 1979 worked with Dr. James Kari of the University of Alaska Fairbanks on Dena'ina Qenaga Duch'duldih: Dena'ina Athabaskan Junior Dictionary.