Promises to Keep

Subsistence in Alaska’s National Parks 

National Park Service 

U.S. Department of Interior 

University of Alaska Fairbanks, Archives #69-92-48Stephen Foster Collection,

“Subs stence def nes us. We battle the elements and somet mes r sk 

our l fe to get the foods we crave. It s not an easy l fe,but t s ours.” 

Arthur Lake, 

Kwigillingok Tribal Member 

Lake Minchumina, early 1900s. 

Alaska’s abundance of natural 

resources form the backbone of life 

and economy of many people of 

Alaska. Today, as in the past, many 

Alaskans live off the land, relying on 

fish, wildlife and other wild resources. 

Alaska Natives have used these 

subsistence resources for food, shelter, 

clothing, transportation, handicrafts 

and trade for thousands of years. 

Subsistence, and all it entails, is critical 

to sustaining both the physical and 

spiritual culture of Alaska Native 

peoples. It is an important tradition 

for many non-Natives as well. 

When the first Europeans visited 

Alaska’s shores during the 1740s, all 

the local residents they met were 

engaged in a subsistence lifestyle. 

As the population grew through the 

territorial days, many new and 

conflicting demands were made on 

Alaska’s natural and cultural resources. 

Development in various forms, such 

as harvesting marine and inland 

furbearers, commercial fisheries, 

mining operations, agriculture, 

development of military bases, along 

with establishment of cities and 

towns often impacted local resources 

and subsistence activities. By the © C. Craft LeFebre 

time Alaska gained statehood in Seasonal cabins are commonly used 1959, subsistence patterns in some of when trapping. Alaska’s more populated areas had edged the importance of subsistence Subsistence users have a unique elders and from their observations that is imperative to keep: to preserve 

been greatly affected. hunting and fishing to Alaska Natives, connection to the land, fostered by as a hunter. These stories of the and protect some of our nation’s 

In the years that followed state- but provided no specific protection tradition and lifelong experience. people and the land and the sea are most splendid natural ecosystems and 

hood, the pace of change accelerated on federal public lands. National Park Service Native Liaison inseparable. They are part of the treasured landscapes while providing 

and developments abounded in Nine years later, Congress formally and Heritage Specialist Herbert quest to survive.” the opportunity for those engaged in 

Alaska’s remote areas. In response, recognized the social and cultural Anungazuk elegantly describes the Subsistence resource commissions a traditional subsistence way of life to 

rural residents began to organize, and importance of protecting subsistence cultural importance and relationship have been established for most continue to do so. As Carol Jorgensen, 

before long they petitioned govern- uses by both Native and non-Native of traditional ecological knowledge national parks and monuments in Tlingit Indian and former Subsistence 

ment officials in hopes of retaining rural residents when it passed to Native cultures. “Since dawn Alaska to provide meaningful Regional Advisory Council Coordinator 

some protection for their land base the Alaska National Interest Lands immemorial, the land and the sea participation and involvement of local stated, “Subsistence... is the very 

and their subsistence way of life. In Conservation Act (ANILCA). This was our classroom of survival, and it subsistence users in planning and blueprint within our souls that describes 

deliberations leading to the Alaska legislation created millions of acres of was the observant elder and hunter management decisions affecting sub- who we are as a people, and how we 

Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) new national park and preserve who shared the knowledge they gained sistence. With the passage of ANILCA, depend on our brothers and sisters of 

of 1971, the U.S. Congress acknowl- additions in Alaska. from their special moments with the the American people made a promise earth, air and water.” 

The subsistence lifestyle calls on 

all members of the community to 

participate and share the natural 

resources harvested. 

© Sue Entsminger © Paul Starr © Julie Collins 

Berries are used to make juice, jam 

and syrup. 

In Alaska, areas that are now called 

national parks and wilderness areas 

encompass some of the oldest 

inhabited land in North America. 

Archeologists theorize that humans 

entered the North American continent 

between 25,000 and 28,000 years 

ago, crossing over the now submerged 

landmass called the Bering Land 

Bridge. More recently, radiocarbon 

dated sites put humans on the Alaska 

landscape 12,000 to 14,000 years 

ago. Most importantly, Alaska Natives Traditional ecological knowledge is 

have maintained an intricate and vital the system of knowledge gained by 

connection to the land for countless experience, observation and analysis 

generations, and that connection of natural events that is shared 

continues to be essential for their among members of a community. In 

cultural, spiritual and economic way subsistence that knowledge is used 

of life. to find, harvest, process, store and 

Regardless where you go in Alaska, sustain natural resources that are 

Native cultures have evolved as needed for food, clothing and shelter. 

part of ecosystems and landscapes Subsistence users are taught at a very 

they inhabit. This relationship and young age that they are not to waste 

connection to the land, water and subsistence resources, especially fish 

resources has remained unbroken. and wildlife. Alaska Natives are to 

ANILCA recognized the importance take only what is needed and when 

and significance of the cultural and it is needed. They are to treat all 

subsistence components in Alaska’s living things with respect, and they 

ecosystems and incorporated are not to damage the land without 

protections into the law to ensure cause. Subsistence is a living tradition 

the opportunity for both Native and based on a deep respect for wildlife 

non-Native Alaskans to engage in a and for sharing resources with others 

subsistence way of life. in their community. 

Living Cultures 

“Subs stence s a way that 

Nat ve peoples of Alaska 

have preserved the r 

cultures. Th s way of l fe 

 s not conf ned to the land. 

It stretches out to the sky 

and...the waters and 

r vers. The creatures of the 

earth g ve themselves to the 

people,who n turn share 

w th fam ly and fr ends, 

shap ng relat onsh ps that 

celebrate l fe.” 

© Sue Entsminger 

© Julie Collins © Terry Haynes 

Some methods of harvest have changed over the years but many remain 

intact. Nets and hand lines are efficient means of harvesting fish. 

© Sue Entsminger 

Above:

An elder teaches young people how 

to prepare moose stomach, passing 

down time-honored traditions. 

Helga akon, Left:

Children get involved in subsistence U.S. Fi h and Wildlife Service harvest at an early age. Here these 

Interagency Coordinator children are spotting for sheep. 
A L A S K A 

Bering Land Bridge 

National Preserve 

Denali 

National Park and Preserve 

Subsistence in 

Alaska’s National Parks 

No part of an animal is wasted; hides 

are used for clothing, oil and meats 

© National Park Service © Paul Starr © National Park Service © National Park Service © Paul Starr 

National Park Units with 

Subsistence hunting and fishing 

National Park Units where Subsistence 

hunting and fishing are not permitted Noatak

National Preserve Gates of the Arctic 

National Park and Preserve 

Cape Krusenstern 

National Monument Kobuk Valley “S nce dawn mmemor al, National Park Canada 

the land and the sea was our 

classroom of surv val,and 

 t was the observant elder 

and hunter who shared the 

knowledge they ga ned from 

the r spec al moments w th 

the elders and from the r 

observat ons as a hunter. 

These stor es of the people 

and the land and the sea are 

 nseparable. They are part 

of the quest to surv ve.” 

Herbert Anungazuk, 

National Park Service 

Native Liai on and Heritage Speciali t 

for consumption. 

Winter is also an active time 

for trapping. 

Yukon-Charley Rivers 

National Preserve 

Wrangell-St. Elias 

National Park and Preserve 

Lake Clark 

National Park and Preserve 

Klondike Gold Rush 

National Historical Park 

Kenai Fjords 

National Park Glacier Bay 

National Park and Preserve 

Katmai Sitka 

National Park and Preserve National Historical Park 

Aniakchak 

National Monument and Preserve 

Fish are harvested year-round in many 

parts of Alaska. 

Seasonal Subsistence Uses 

Changing economic and social snowshoes. They harvest wild fur 

opportunities in some communities animals for income, meat and 

have influenced the level of use clothing. Hides and fur can be 

and dependence on subsistence sewn into comfortable and warm 

resources. Still, many subsistence clothing to ward off the severe 

users depend upon the land for Alaska cold. The land provides 

nearly every aspect of their lives. wood for firewood, drying racks 

Each summer and fall they plant and cabin logs, as well as for 

gardens, fish, harvest moose or making sleds and snowshoes. The 

other game and gather berries. land also provides sod and mosses 

During winter months they travel to insulate shelters and bark for 

by dog team, snowmachine and baskets, dyes and handicrafts. 

“The subs stence l festyle s 

a learned th ng,and there’s 

qu te a b t of knowledge of 

an mals and seasons... 

watch ng the an mals, f 

some populat on s low 

you don’t hunt those. I’m 

teach ng my k ds these th ngs 

and they are learn ng th s 

knowledge. Maybe only 

one w ll stay [ n W seman], 

maybe both w ll. But that 

one w ll then pass that 

knowledge on,that’s the 

way the subs stence l festyle 

 s propagated.” 

Jack Reakoff, 

Wi eman Re ident 

© Julie Collins

Fishwheels, like this one on the Copper River, are an effective way to catch fish. © Sue Entsminger

© National Park Service 

Fur is used to make 

warm clothing. 

Although dog teams are still used in some areas, 

most subsistence users prefer snowmachines for 

Fall is prime berry picking season. travel in winter. 

1900 1950 2000 

1980 

Timeline 

© R. Collins

Congress passes the Alaska National Interest 

Lands Conservation Act, creating 104 million 

acres of new parks, preserves and wildlife 

refuges. Title VIII of ANILCA protects 

subsistence needs of rural Alaskans. 

Pre-1867 

For thousands of years, Alaska Natives 1990 

harvest fish and wildlife resources 1959 

Alaska becomes a state. 

The federal government begins managing 

subsistence hunting and trapping on 

Alaska’s federal public lands. 

1867-1958 

Following the Alaska Purchase, the federal government 

Medfra fish camp in 1964. 

manages Alaska’s fish and wildlife resources. However, 

harvesting by Natives was specifically exempted from fish 

and game laws enacted in 1902, 1924 and 1925. 

1999 

Federal subsistence management 

expands to include fisheries on 

most federally managed waters