Fort Yukon, Alaska was established in 1847 by the Hudson's Bay Company, it is the largest Athabascan Indian village in Alaska's Interior and one of the oldest settlements in the State of Alaska. The Gwich'in Athabascans have inhabited the Fort Yukon area for thousands of years, the Gwich'in People refer to the village as Gwichyaa Zhee (house on the flats). Fort Yukon, approximately 140 miles northeast of Fairbanks, is situated at the confluence of the Yukon and Porcupine Rivers and is accessible year round by airplane and by boat in the summer.

The Athabascans of this area of Alaska are well known and recognized for their exquisite beadwork designs that decorate many daily Arctic apparel such as boots, jackets and gloves. With the introduction of glass beads late in the 1800's beadwork quickly replaced porcupine quillwork as the primary form of decoration. In addition to beadwork, other utilitarian forms of artwork survive. These include building birch bark canoes and making snow shoes as well as reproducing items used in traditional games.

Information provided by Gwichyaa Zhee Gwich'in Tribal Government.