For Alaska Native peoples and many other indigenous peoples
around the world, subsistence living is a way of being and
relating to the world that represents an intricate bond between
humans and the land. It is more than the sum of activities such
as fishing, hunting, making shelter, and preserving food.
Rather, traditional Native life depends on reading nature's
cycles and signs, such as the cycles of the moon, and using that
knowledge to use what nature provides. It is living life in a
way that is sustainable and that honors one's ancestors, the
land, and the sea. It is important to health, culture, and
identity. Subsistence living is centered on customs, and its
existence and integrity is mandated by law. Traditionally,
subsistence activities follow the fish, wildlife, and plants
that are available at different times of the year. These
resources differ across Alaska, largely according to whether a
community is situated along the coast or in the interior, to the
north or to the south. No matter what is being