 It is largely inhabited by indigenous Chukchi and Siberian Yupik people and has a population according to the most recent census results of 184, of whom 98 were male and 86 female, a reduction on an estimate made in 2006 of 210 people.The origins of the name of the settlement are disputed.Some people believe that the name is associated with the traditional beliefs commonly held by indigenous Asian Arctic peoples which equate sea creatures closely with humans and that the name comes from the Chukchi word "Vankaremen" meaning Tusk People, as indigenous hunters referred to their prey as "Walrus People".