---
title: Indigenous Peoples of the Arctic Refuge | Gwich'in and Iñupiat
description: For the Gwich'in and Iñupiat Peoples the wildlife and landscape of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is central to survival and sacred cultural beliefs.
---
[](https://www.protectthearctic.org/)
ABOUT
[History](https://www.protectthearctic.org/history-of-the-arctic-national-wildlife-refuge)[INDIGENOUS Peoples](https://www.protectthearctic.org/indigenous-peoples-arctic-refuge-gwichin-and-iñupiat)[Wildlife](https://www.protectthearctic.org/alaska-wildlife-arctic-national-wildlife-refuge)[ENVIRONMENTAL IMPORTANCE](https://www.protectthearctic.org/environmental-importance-of-the-arctic-national-wildlife-refuge)[The Threat](https://www.protectthearctic.org/threat-of-drilling-in-the-arctic-national-wildlife-refuge)
FILM
[GIANT SCREEN FILM](https://www.protectthearctic.org/arctic-national-wildlife-refuge-giant-screen-film)[HOST A SCREENING](https://www.protectthearctic.org/screenings)[PRESS](https://www.protectthearctic.org/press)[BEHIND THE SCENES](https://www.protectthearctic.org/arctic-national-wildlife-refuge-filming-florian-schulz-story)
WESTERN ARCTIC
[WESTERN ARCTIC RESERVE](https://www.protectthearctic.org/westernarctic)[SPECIAL AREAS](https://www.protectthearctic.org/specialareas)[Current Threats To Special Areas](https://www.protectthearctic.org/special-area-threats)
[BLOG](https://www.protectthearctic.org/blog) [RESOURCES](https://www.protectthearctic.org/educational-resources)[CREATOR TOOLKIT](https://www.protectthearctic.org/toolkit)[CONTACT](https://www.protectthearctic.org/contact-the-protect-arctic-national-wildlife-reserve-effort)[TAKE ACTION](https://www.protectthearctic.org/take-action-to-protect-the-arctic-national-wildlife-refuge)
[](https://www.protectthearctic.org/indigenous-peoples-arctic-refuge-gwichin-and-i%C3%B1upiat#)
# INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
#### In the Gwich’in creation story, Gwich’in and caribou began as one. After separating into two beings, they remained relatives and made an agreement to protect and provide for each other.
### FAST FACT
The Gwich’in people call the coastal plain of the Arctic Refuge “The Sacred Place Where Life Begins.”
### FAST FACT
The Arctic Refuge is the traditional territory of the Athabascan Gwich’in and Iñupiat Peoples.
### FAST FACT
The Gwich’in rely on the Porcupine Caribou Herd to make clothes, provide food, and maintain their spiritual connection to the land.
[BEHIND THE SCENES: The story of how these images were captured
](https://www.protectthearctic.org/arctic-national-wildlife-refuge-filming-florian-schulz-story) [GIANT SCREEN: Find a theater
](https://www.protectthearctic.org/arctic-national-wildlife-refuge-giant-screen-film) [ TAKE ACTION: Learn how you can help #ProtectTheArctic
](https://www.protectthearctic.org/archive-take-action)
“We ask for courage, love, and commitment for all our leaders, to enable them to find it in their hearts to protect the coastal plain of the Arctic Refuge.”
[](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/7330166/a33355e5-55e0-4df7-ab16-e335d2269653)
History
[](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/7330166/3fd5ac72-2082-4386-8a77-165241140fe2)
Wildlife
[](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/7330166/1b2ab76c-2dcb-4be3-9b6e-c698221788c9)
Environmental Importance
[](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/7330166/cfadf41f-c859-490d-893b-5e600b073026)
The Threat
[](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/7330166/144735ec-1e8c-4e38-9210-0f97a8d636d0)
America's Arctic is a climate-critical landscape and a global treasure for biodiversity. Join us to #ProtectTheArctic.
[](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/7330166/ddbd38b0-eac4-4a1a-bc39-69d80bd8ba36)
[](https://www.protectthearctic.org/)
#### ABOUT US
- [History](https://www.protectthearctic.org/history-of-the-arctic-national-wildlife-refuge)
- [Indigenous Peoples](https://www.protectthearctic.org/indigenous-peoples-arctic-refuge-gwichin-and-iñupiat)
- [Wildlife](https://www.protectthearctic.org/alaska-wildlife-arctic-national-wildlife-refuge)
- [Environmental Importance](https://www.protectthearctic.org/environmental-importance-of-the-arctic-national-wildlife-refuge)
- [The Threat](https://www.protectthearctic.org/threat-of-drilling-in-the-arctic-national-wildlife-refuge)
#### FILMS
- [Giant Screen Film](https://www.protectthearctic.org/arctic-national-wildlife-refuge-giant-screen-film)
- [Behind the Scenes](https://www.protectthearctic.org/arctic-national-wildlife-refuge-filming-florian-schulz-story)
- [BLOG](https://www.protectthearctic.org/blog)
- [PARTNERS](https://www.protectthearctic.org/organisations-helping-protect-the-arctic-national-wildlife-refuge)
- [CONTACT](https://www.protectthearctic.org/contact-the-protect-arctic-national-wildlife-refuge-campaign)
- [TAKE ACTION](https://www.protectthearctic.org/archive-take-action)
- [WESTERN ARCTIC](https://www.protectthearctic.org/westernarctic)
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