This is due to the enrollment qualifications that extend tribal citizenship only to those who reside in the town of Cordova for the majority of the year.

[4] Historical Eyak territory reached from present-day Cordova east to the Martin River and north to Miles Glacier.

When the Russians arrived they recognized the Eyak as a distinct culture and described their territory on their maps.

Because of their small population, they were often raided and their territory boundaries were under pressure from the Chugach to the west.

Pressure from neighboring ethnic groups and the spread of English resulted in a decline of the Eyak language.