The Story of Central and Chalkyitsik

Central, like many other villages, started as an outpost for gold miners at the turn of the century. It is the location of the midway point for the Yukon Quest Race which happens every year in February at the Steese Roadhouse. You can also check out the Circle District Museum which holds artifacts from the gold rush days and the first printing press north of Juneau on which the first Alaska newspaper of the interior was printed.Chalkyitsik means "Fish with a hook, at the mouth of the creek" in the Gwich'in language. It started 70 miles upriver when William Salmon built a home in 1901 and called it Salmon Village. When a boat carrying building materials for a school at Salmon village made it's way up the river, it only made it to today's site for the village where the school building was built and the village sprung from there. William Salmon's son, David Salmon became the chief of Chalkyitsik and "First Traditional Chief of the Gwich'in people." David became an Episcopal preacher spending most of his life sharing the gospel in the language of his people in Chalkyitsik and the surrounding area. He has also advocated for education and preserving the traditional ways of the Athabascan people. What a legacy!Contact the show at [email protected] Logo was created by Evan Van KirkMusic was created by Isaac Bedingfield