Chena Village

Tour Description

A highlight for our guests is the tour of our Chena Native Village. There you will get to meet some of our Alaskan Native Guides who will show you how the Athabaskan survived for 10,000 years in these harsh environments, and how they adapted to Village life and Western culture in the past century.

Cabin & Cache

Riverboat travel into the interior prompted the building of trading posts, allowing trade between Native fur trappers and newly arrived people from all over the world. Constructed by a crew of Alaska Native craftsmen, our Trappers Cabin, Line Cabin, and Cache provide a glimpse into the development of villages along the rivers of Alaska.

Garments & Hides

Learn how the Athabascans hunted the reclusive moose, the process for tanning moose hide, and then enjoy viewing our authentic moose hide and fur native regalia pieces. They were all sewn by hand by renowned skin sewing and beadwork artist Dixie Alexander.

Ancient & Reindeer

Our resident herd of reindeer anchors this area depicting an early Athabascan campsite. Discover how these nomadic people existed in this harsh climate and did so quite successfully for thousands of years before any western influence. From hunting techniques to creative uses of birch bark, you’ll be amazed by the ingenuity and creativity of Athabascan ancestors

Meet Your Guides

Noah

A Koyukon Athabascan from Fairbanks, Noah’s family is from Rampart on the Yukon River. Noah recently graduated from Oral Roberts University with his Masters in Divinity. It is Noah’s 11th season as a Native Guide.

Hanna

Hanna is Koyukon and Qwich’in Athabascan who was born and raised in FBX. Her family are dog mushers with a large kennel of huskies. Venetai is the village her family comes from and she is currently a student at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks studying radiology. This is Hanna’s 8th year as a Native Guide.

Dylana

A 6th year Native Guide, Dylana is Koyukon Athabascan and Yupik. Her family is from Kaltag, a village on the Lower Yukon River, however Dylana grew up in and currently lives in Fairbanks.

Leo

Koyukon Athabascan and Inupiaq, Leo grew up in the village of Tanana, AK. She just finished her first year of college at Western Washington U. where she is pursuing a double major in Political Science and English. This is Leo’s 5th season as a guide on the Riverboat Discovery.

Annette

Annette is Inupiaq. She was born and raised in Fairbanks and her family is from Teller, which is near Nome on western coast. She’ll be a senior in high school this fall and plays the violin, viola, and piano. This is Annette’s 2nd year as a Native Guide.

Melody

Koyukon Athabascan, and cousin to Dylana Hailey, Melody is a 2nd year Native Guide, also from Kaltag. She recently graduated from Effie Kokrine Charter School and makes beautiful beaded earrings.

Sienna

Sienna is Koyukon Athabascan from Fairbanks and has spent much time in Koyukuk, her family’s village. She enjoys introducing people to her culture and learning about other cultures. She will be a Junior in high school this fall, and this is Sienna’s first summer as a Native Guide.

Hailey

Yup’ik, Cup’ik (choo-pik), Inupiaq, and Koyukon Athabascan from Fairbanks, Hailey is a sophomore at University of AK, Anchorage, studying Kinesiology. This is her first year as a Native Guide and she is also a 2023 candidate for the Miss World Eskimo Indian Olympics Scholarship.

Melanie

Mel has a Tlingkit background and was raised in Fairbanks. She is a junior in highschool, loves the sport of curling, and sings in her schools highest choir. This is Mel’s first year as a Native Guide.

After Tour Description

At the end of your guided tour, you will have time to explore the village on your own, interact with our guides and visit dogs from Susan Butcher’s Trail Breaker Kennel.

Trail Breaker Kennel Dog Yard

A handler from Susan Butcher’s Trail Breaker Kennel will be available to answer any questions about the Alaskan Husky and the sport of Dog Mushing. There will be a few sled dogs there to help them in any demonstrations