History

Our Kenaitze ancestors traveled from the Alaska Range to the shores of Cook Inlet many centuries ago. They settled along the banks of the Inlet and its tributaries and became Kahtnuht’ana, the people of the Kenai. In the summer they fished the rivers and Tikatnu, now known as Cook Inlet, and fishcamps bustled with subsistence activities. Men, women, children and Elders worked together in harmony to ensure the fish were successfully harvested and preserved for the upcoming winter.

After the fish had been harvested, the Kenaitze moved inland to hunt bear, caribou, moose, mountain goat and sheep. Women and children collected berries and snared small animals. When winter came, our people were prepared as a result of their tireless work, and used this time for trapping, gathering together, visiting with other villages, storytelling and trading.