The influences of Yupiks, Athabascans, and Caucasians have brought the middle Kuskokwim River area to be very unique people. The 3,800 + shareholders live in, or are descendants from one of the 10 villages along the Kuskokwim River. The hunting & trapping, gathering, arts & crafts, activities, and The Kuskokwim Corporation have made our region very rich in culture and traditions.

Hunting and trapping to the Kuskokwim region depends on the migratory animals and the season to hunt. The subsistence foods involve:

• Moose
• Caribous
• Ptarmigans
• Beavers
• Bears
• Geese
• Ducks
• Swans
• Porcupine
• Chee fish
• White fish
• Red salmon
• Silver Salmon
• Pike
• Smelts
• Lush
• Black fish
• Eels

The Yupik, Athabascan, and Caucasians influence each other with their arts & crafts. Many of the crafts that are made for traditional uses were also decorative pieces. Their designs and hand crafts has been:

• Fish Traps
• Fish Wheels
• Fish Rafts
• Spears
• Smoke Houses
• Birch Bark Baskets
• Yupik & Athabascan Dancing
• Beading
• Skin Sewing
• Kuspuks
• Wooden Spoons
• Ulu

The people gather many items, such as: plants, berries, hunting supplies, and arts and crafts supplies for their subsistence life style. The plants, berries, and supplies included:

• Blue Berries
• Salmon/Cloud Berries
• Red Berries
• Black Berries
• Raspberries
• High Bush Cranberries
• Low Bush Cranberries
• Stick Weed
• Sweet Root
• Rhubarb
• Cat Tails
• Birch Barks
• Roots
• Willows
• Wood
• Punks
• Grass
• Fur

In our region people gather for activities to celebrate or for the condolences of others. We have potlucks, carnivals, and numerous community gatherings throughout the year, because social events are important to us as people.

The Kuskokwim Corporation is a for profit company that continues to support our culture and tradition through donations, scholarships, and other activities.

The Yupik Eskimo and Athabascan Indians from the Kuskokwim River are a strong and independent race that have survived many difficult times, and in still have seemed to keep our cultures and traditions alive.