Upper Kuskokwim people

The Upper Kuskokwim People

The Upper Kuskokwim people are a special group of people who live in Alaska. They are also called the Upper Kuskokwim Athabaskans, and their own name for themselves is Dichinanek' Hwt'ana. They are the original people of villages along the Upper Kuskokwim River, such as Nikolai, Telida, and McGrath.

These people have a rich culture and history. Long ago, they lived in six different groups along the river. Today, many of them live in the villages of McGrath, Takotna, Nikolai, and Telida. They used to move between homes depending on the season, following the animals and plants for food.

The Upper Kuskokwim people are good hunters and gatherers. They hunt animals like Dall sheep, caribou, and black bear. They also fish in the rivers for Pacific salmon and gather berries like blueberries and salmonberries.

Their families are very important, and they trace their family ties through their mothers. This is called a matrilineal system. Today, many Upper Kuskokwim people belong to special groups that help protect their traditions and land, such as the Tanana Chiefs Conference. These groups include the McGrath Traditional Council, Medfra Traditional Council, Edzeno Native Council, Takotna Traditional Council, and Telida Native Village Council.