The two main peoples known as "Eskimo" are: (1) the Inuit (Canada) or Inupiat (Northern Alaska), and the (2) Yupik of Greenland, and eastern Siberia and Alaska.

The Yupik are three indigenous peoples who live along the coast of western Alaska: the Central Yupik West Alaskan Eskimo, the Pacific Yupik Eskimo, and the St. Lawrence Island Eskimo.

With the above in mind, the Pacific Yupik Eskimo, also known as the Alutiq, are a southern coastal Alaskan Yupik people.

Their language is a distinct language with two major dialects: the Koniag dialect, spoken on the Alaska Peninsula and on Kodiak Island, and the Chugach dialect, spoken on the southern Kenai Peninsula and in Prince William Sound.

Traditionally, they lived a coastal lifestyle, relying upon ocean resources such as salmon, halibut, and whales, as well as rich land resources such as berries and land mammals.