Honoring Our Elders

Four Elders worked tirelessly and passionately for the return of tribal lands, helping to close a very painful chapter in the lives of their people. Some of the Elders who contributed to this effort died before the final resolution, but Elders past and present restored an important connection to the history of the village and made healing possible for the people. The area is of great cultural and spiritual importance to the Ahtna Athabascan people, who have called it home for over 10,000 years, and its lands, waters, cultural sites, burial grounds, wildlife, and other resources are to be treated with respect and protected through responsible use, observance of land ownership, and proper permits for access to Ahtna's private lands.

Gulkana, Alaska · United States