The Deg Hit'an Athabascan and Yup’ik Eskimos shareholders call Holy Cross, Alaska home. At the heart of daily life in Holy Cross is a deep reliance on the land and its bounty. Hunting and fishing-related activities are not just economic or sport necessities, but key aspects of our cultural identity and survival. While it has been some time since our shareholders were able to fish on the Yukon River, salmon is and will always be one of our first foods.
The traditional "First Foods" of the region reflect the intimate connection residents have with the environment. These include freshwater sources like spring water, as well as nutrient-rich salmon, lush, whitefish and pike, staples caught from the nearby Yukon River. On land, families gather berries and roots and grow fresh vegetables and potatoes during the summer. Fiddlehead ferns, a seasonal delicacy, are foraged in the spring, while moose provides vital meat in the fall, for the long winters.
The land around Holy Cross offers more than sport and recreational hunting and fishing, this is our home. Through the harvest and sharing of these First Foods, Athabascan and Yup’ik traditions endure, binding generations together with respect for the environment and the knowledge passed down over centuries.
