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Kotzebue, Alaska Overview
Kotzebue is located 26 miles north of the Arctic Circle on the shores of the Chukchi Sea, near where the Noatak River drains into the Kotzebue Sound. More than 90 percent of its residents are of Inupiat Eskimo descent and they still utilize a hunting and gathering lifestyle to help them survive. The city started out as an Eskimo trading center and is now the headquarters for Northwest Arctic Native Association (NANA), a regional corporation that oversees everything from mining and drilling operations to hotel management. Visitors to Kotzebue can learn about the area's history at the Innaigvik Education and Information Center, or participate hands-on in activities of native Eskimos at LaVonne's Fish Camp.