Theirs was very much a mixed economy with fish, waterfowl, and both small and large game contributing to the larder as these became seasonally available. It might be argued that some resources, by their seasonal abundance, were of critical importance, such as the salmon fishery along the Yukon River and caribou in the Old Crow Flats. Animal bones found in southwest Anderson Plain archaeological sites clearly indicate that caribou was a major species sought after at all times of the year. In fact, a number of sites appear to represent specialized fall caribou hunting localities. Permanent settlements are recent and necessity required the Gwich'in to cover extensive territories in their annual cycle, but some localities appear to have been revisited with some frequency.
River has cultural remains spanning at least four thousand years.
The most recent use is a cabin built there in the 1970s and used for caribou hunting and fall fishing. While skin and possibly bark-covered domed dwellings were reported, more substantial constructions of poles and sod were also employed. First Descriptions-Early Contact Alexander Mackenzie, a partner in the Northwest Company, is attributed with the first written description of the easternmost Gwich'in people and their country as he made a failed attempt to find a route to the Pacific Ocean in 1789. Indeed, trade, likely through intermediaries, was surely occurring with the Russian traders established along the coast of southern Alaska. Much debate has taken place surrounding the effects that sustained contact between such economically, technologically, culturally different peoples might have had.