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A
Brief History
The
native residents of Anaktuvuk Pass are
the last remaining band of Nunamiut
Eskimo, a semi-nomadic inland group whose
ancestors date back for hundreds of years.
They settled permanently in this location
in the early l950's, which historically
and to this day is a major caribou
migration route. In times past their
subsistence needs required utilization of
nearly the entire Central Brooks Range.
Even today they still continue to depend
on caribou and other natural resources
for food, clothing and cultural
continuity. Although the village his
undergone many cultural and technological
changes in the past few decades, the
Nunamiut have retained their basic
lifestyle, identity and social structure
to a remarkable degree.
The
establishment of Gates of Arctic National
Park and Preserve in 1980 placed
Anaktuvuk Pass virtually in the middle of
a nationally recognized unit of the
National Park system. The resulting
publicity from the establishment of the
park has increased visitation to this
region and can potentially be disruptive
to the existing community.
Natives
today maintain ownership of approximately
175,000 acres in the Anaktuvuk Pass
region. Ownership may be through village
and regional corporations or native
allotments. A majority of the village and
regional lands surround the village while
native allotments are scattered
throughout the park.
Beginning
at the earliest stages of planning for
the formation of the park, the National
Park Service recognized a national
interest and was mandated by the United
States Congress to insure the protection
of the Nunamiut culture and lifestyle,
including subsistence use and privately
owned lands. The Nunamiut Eskimo of
Anaktuvuk Pass retain a strong
environmental identity involving
traditional use with the surrounding
areas. Therefore, the National Park
Service has joined with the Arctic Slope
Regional Corporation and the Nunamiut
Village Corporation to establish a
cooperative land use agreement. This
agreement allows for local residents to
operate all-terrain vehicles for
subsistence activities during the summer
months to certain lands near the
Anaktuvuk Pass area.
While
Visiting Anaktuvuk Pass
As
you travel across the land you may
encounter local residents engaged in
hunting, fishing, trapping, berry
picking, or other subsistence activities
at any time. These activities may be free-ranging
or stationary. Fishing and hunting camps
as well as traplines (areas where
trapping occurs, generally  along rivers
and creeks) are not uncommon to come
across. In addition, please be aware your
physical presence can unintentionally
influence game movements and result in
disrupting the village subsistence
activities. We ask you to consider
carefully your presence in the village as
well as while traveling across native
lands. The impact of your visit may be
kept to a minimum by following these
suggestions:
Introduce
yourself. Be friendly, but respect the
privacy of others.
Ask
for permission if you wish to photograph
local residents or their homes,
particularly in the village, but also in
the field.
Be
sensitive toward the native village
culture and lifestyle. Often it will
differ from your own, so assume nothing
and ask if you do not understand.
Respect
any private property that you may
encounter in the backcountry and leave it
be. This includes structures, camps,
traps, and what may often appear as
abandoned property.
Do
not camp within sight of the village.
Tents on hillsides several miles may
still be visible to local residents.
Remember
that the residents of Anaktuvuk Pass may
not view wilderness values and
recreational pursuits as you might view
them. The concepts of seeking out an
opportunity like backpacking and a
wilderness experience simply for pleasure
may be quite foreign. For residents, the
'wilderness' is generally a daily part of
their existence. While much of their
lives are spent out in the 'wilderness'
it is often associated with subsistence
activities as they work to make a living
from the land and the resources.
Camping
Information
In
the Village:
For
public convenience, the village has often
designated a specific area for overnight
camping within the community. In recent
years this camping area was located among
the willows along the east side of the
runway opposite the town. Please check at
the store, restaurant, community center,
or ranger station for current information.
Camping within sight of the village but
outside of any designated area is
perceived being disrespectful toward the
residents (i.e. trespassing) and should
be avoided.
On
Native Corporation Lands:
Native
corporation lands completely surround the
city of Anaktuvuk Pass and extend for
several miles. These are privately owned
lands. Maps showing these lands are
located at the ranger station in
Anaktuvuk Pass. Visitors are allowed
access onto these lands by foot and/or
dog team. However, camping within one-half
mile of an active hunting camp or camping
for more than one night at the same site
on these corporation lands is prohibited
except in emergencies. Inquire locally at
the ranger station or Nunamiut
Corporation office for further
information.
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..."the home of
the Numamiut Eskimo" 
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