Alaska's Bearfoot Magazines: Chistochina & Mentasta: Two northern Ahtna Athabascan Villages share a common culture. This is Katie John of Mentasta. Katie John passed away 10 months after this photo was taken.
Alaska's Bearfoot Magazines: Chistochina & Mentasta: Don't Mess With Katie!
Alaska's Bearfoot Magazines: Chistochina & Mentasta: These upper Copper Valley Native Alaska villages have a heritage of dog mushing that continues to this day.
Alaska's Bearfoot Magazines: Chistochina & Mentasta: The annual "Chistochina Fun Days" 4-dog race draws young Ahtna Native mushers, like Jaden Sanford.
Alaska's Bearfoot Magazines: Chistochina & Mentasta: Traditional Native beadwork adorns practical commercial work gloves in Chistochina, Alaska.
Alaska's Bearfoot Magazines: Chistochina & Mentasta: Ahtna Native elders Jerry and Lena Charley at a traditional Athabascan potlatch.
Alaska's Bearfoot Magazines: Chistochina & Mentasta: Ahtna Native culture is reflected in potlatch clothing in Chistochina.
Alaska's Bearfoot Magazines: Chistochina & Mentasta: Native Ahtna Athabascan elders traditionally receive a great deal of respect. These are: Fred Ewan, Ben Neeley and Bell Joe.
Alaska's Bearfoot Magazines: Chistochina & Mentasta: The traditional Alaska childhood of local children is nothing like life in the rest of the United States.
Alaska's Bearfoot Magazines: Chistochina & Mentasta: Traditional Ahtna Athabascan Native art at the Chistochina trading post.
Alaska's Bearfoot Magazines: Chistochina & Mentasta: Traditional Athabascan Alaskan birch bark baskets for sale in Chistochina.
Alaska's Bearfoot Magazines: Chistochina & Mentasta: Local dog mushers come to the Chistochina Fun Days sled dog races. This is Ahtna elder Lena Charley.
Alaska's Bearfoot Magazines: Chistochina & Mentasta: Alaska Native art, including beadwork, mocassins, and mitts, for sale in Chistochina at the trading post.
Alaska's Bearfoot Magazines: Chistochina & Mentasta: Alaska Native beadwork.
Alaska's Bearfoot Magazines: Chistochina & Mentasta: Native artwork by Copper Valley Ahtna Athabascans -- a birchbark baskets.
Alaska's Bearfoot Magazines: Chistochina & Mentasta: Inside the Slana National Park Service ranger station on the Nabesna Road, off the Tok Cutoff.
Alaska's Bearfoot Magazines: Chistochina & Mentasta: The Nabesna Road is between Chistochina and Mentasta. There's a National Park Service ranger station near the corner with the Tok Cutoff.