Subsistence

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.

 

Duration:

4 minutes, 40 seconds

Nikolai is a remote Alaska village located in central Alaska near the Kuskokwim River. In June 2013 elders of the community came together and taught their youth how to build a fishwheel, which is a device Athabaskans have used for centuries to catch fish.

 

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 time Alaska gained statehood in 1959, subsistence patterns in some of Alaska's more populated areas had been greatly affected.

To learn more about the history and culture of subsistence in Alaska's National Parks download the subsistence publication, "Promises to Keep."

Learn More about Subsistence

Who Are Subsistence Users?

• Eligibility
• Federal and State of Alaska regulations
• Subsistence Resource Commission
  

Equipment and Access

• Getting into the park and preserve and rules on using firearms in the Kantishna area
• Rules for using off-road vehicles (ORVs)

What Resources Can Be Used?

• Hunting
• Fishing
• Harvesting timber, plants and berries
  

Program Details

• Subsistence Mission Statement
• Fisheries Management Jurisdiction
• How to Submit Proposals

 

Get Involved

Throughout Alaska, management of subsistence use on federal lands (e.g., national parks) is largely handled through the Federal Subsistence Board. Board meetings are an opportunity to interact with people who oversee the program and to suggest proposals for changes to subsistence management.

Next Denali Subsistence Resource Commission Meeting: Wednesday, August 23, 2023 at 10 am

The meeting will be held in Healy at the Totem Inn Conference Room, located in the lodge behind the restaurant, from 10 am to 5 pm or until business is completed. The public is invited to attend.

Teleconference Call-In Number: 1-877-653-9603
Participant Code: 3314982

The Commission will consider a range of issues related to subsistence hunting and fishing in the 1980 park additions to Denali National Park. Agenda items for the meeting will include updates on management issues, upcoming research projects, and wildlife regulatory proposals. Public testimony opportunities will be provided. Contact Amy Craver (907-342-2877) with questions.

 

Do you find the Federal Subsistence Management Program and hunting and fishing regulations confusing? If so, you are not alone.

Denali National Park and Preserve and the Denali Subsistence Resource Commission (SRC) developed the resources above to clarify complicated regulations for subsistence users. They contain important information including; qualifications for hunting, trapping and fishing, various ways you can access hunting areas in the park, ideas on how you can participate in the regulatory change process, use of cabins, collection of fire wood and other topics.

Although Federal subsistence hunting and trapping opportunities are not limited to National Park Service lands, this guide is designed to provide information specific to Denali. You should consult other agencies about subsistence programs on their lands.

Denali National Park and Preserve and the Denali Subsistence Resource Commission are committed to providing the opportunity for rural Alaskans engaged in a subsistence way of life to continue to do so. Park staff and the Commission are working to protect subsistence opportunities by conserving natural and healthy fish and wildlife populations. Input from subsistence users is crucial to the subsistence management program at Denali. Please participate by attending SRC meetings or sharing your concerns with us.