Chickaloon Native Village, Nay’dini’aa Na’ (name in Ahtna, meaning “the river with the two logsacross it”) is a vibrant and culturally rich Ahtna Athabascan tribal community located in Sutton in South central Alaska, about a 90-minute drive from Anchorage, along the Glenn Highway, Scenic Byway.
The Chickaloon Native Village’s Nurture the Land and People Project, Nay’dini’aa Na’ Hwt’aene Ughedze’ Xuk’anotta Nene, was established “To increase community knowledge about Ahtna Athabascan cultural practices.” The program will develop cultural sustainability and economic growth through development of Ahtna cultural tourism. The project will develop an Ahtna Cultural Resource Library, publish an Ahtna Cultural Education Book, and provide Ahtna cultural education events. statewide cultural tourism networks and a business plan for tribal tourism infrastructure development.
The project will also provide cultural tourism trainings to increase the community’s capacity to provide tours and host visitors and will also complete a feasibility study and business plan for a hotel/conference center and cultural park.
