WILDLIFE
Stronger People. Stronger Communities.
Nunam
Unguwallria’I
(land animals)
in Luumacirpet
(our way of life)
For more than 6,000 years, wildlife in the Chugach Region have been central to the Sugpiaq (Alutiiq) and Eyak peoples’ cultures and ways of life. Wildlife have provided food, materials for tools, clothing, and shelter, and teachings carried through stories, traditions, and connection to the land. They remain deeply tied to Chugach identity, culture, and self-determination.
“My mom and dad taught me that hunting is spiritual. It’s not just sustenance.”
Calvin George, Port Graham
Today, these traditions continue. Moose are harvested for community potlatches, and species such as land otter and birds are used in traditional artwork and cultural practices. Knowledge and practices are actively passed to the next generation.
CRRC and local communities partner to support healthy, sustainable wildlife populations and ensure continued access to subsistence resources so these cultural traditions remain strong for generations to come.
“We eat together, we cut it up together, we share with the community together.
Which builds on values. It reinforces those cultural values, doing it together, in a group.”
Patrick Norman, Port Graham
Stronger People.
Stronger Communities.
Through the continuation of this program, CRRC works to better understand traditional food use, food consumption, and cultural preservation.
“We have a responsibility to make sure all of our land is available for future generations coming after us.”
Patrick Norman, Port Graham