Is there an Eskimo village within a short driving or train distance from Fairbanks, Denali, Anchorage or Seward?

Anchorage is technically the largest eskimo "village" in the state. Other than that to see the real deal you need to fly. Barrow or Ft. Yukon are solid choices.

Probably not what you are looking for?? Alaska is metropolitan, you have to get way out of "town" to see significant native unspoiled "culture".
Anaktuvuk Pass is true Eskimos- plus a very very scenic flightseeing trip there. http://www.welcometoalaska.com/Commu...ktuvukpass.htm

Let me put it this way, I was born and raised in Fairbanks, Alaska. I have NEVER seen an igloo or "Eskimo village". It would really behoove anyone going on an Alaska vacation to at least study some basic material about the state.

Hope you really enjoy your vacation.

Aqua_8502, give her a break. Many visitors before their first trip to Alaska have this misconception about how and where Native Alaskans live. SanDiegoSue posted this message so she can learned. I bet she really appreciates this lesson from you but be kind.
I just looked up couple of your posts to learn whether you were never confused regarding your upcoming trip or asked maybe naive question. You don't post here often but do you recall your own post before your trip to Spain?

<If you choose to reply, please be kind - I'm already at the point of ripping out my hair and probably just need to get away from the travel planning for awhile and then come back with a clear head! By the way, we travel all the time and I've never hit such a "block" before. Maybe it's that other than Scotland I've never been to Europe."

So, as you already know every trip and preparation for a trip is a learning experience.

I feel we all travel because we are so eager to experience new things, to learn about new places, cultures, people. Sometimes we are learning by asking silly questions. Please be kind to those who want to learn.

Pat2003 -

Yes, of course you are right. I apologize if I sounded rude. I was/remain somewhat surprised that people who are from the US are so naive about Alaska.

I suppose it's a case where we take for granted what's in our own backyard. It just always amazes me that people seem to think Alaska is like a foreign country. It's just as accessible as any other state.

Aqua_8502, I think we all do this once a while. Some things seem so obvious to us but not to those who are not familiar with places and cultures. We are fascinated by Native American culture regardless whether it is our own state or Alaska. Don't be surprised that so many of us feel about Alaska almost like about a foreign country. After all, Alaska used to belong to Russia and there is so much visible influence of Russian culture. The best examples are Russian names of some more frequently visited town such as Sitka, Petersburg, Cordova, Gustavus. Some of the Athabaskan Indians still live in their traditional villages and spend summer in fish camps. We have friends who are Athabaskan Indians and spent a couple days in their camp. The next time we visit Nome we are planning on taking a day trip to one of native Russian villages. It is only one hour flight from Nome.
These are two good websites anyone interested in Native Alaskan culture may read about
www.explorenorth.com
www.alaskanative.com
Personally, I enjoy metroploitan feel of Anchorage but also remote places and native culture of Alaska. There is so much to see and expreince in Alaska and for this reason my husband and I return year after year. Alaska is not only beautiful but fascinating as well.

Aqua, the Native Heritage Center is in Anchorage, and it will provide the glimpse of native life you'r elooking to see.
http://www.alaskanative.net/

I am intimately familiar with Athabascan culture. In fact, my (Athabascan) relatives have written very good books on life in Alaska. A small sampling is "Shadows on the Koyukuk" or "On the Edge of Nowhere" both of which were very well received.

They are both available on the major book seller websites for anyone who would like to read about the (past and hopefully to be seen again ) authentic Alaskan experience.

Christie is right and this is a site I had in mind. So it isn't dotcom. It is dotnet. Thank you Christie

By the way for those of you who don't know - there are many differences between Eskimos and Alaskan (Indians). Most people think they are one in the same (read above) but those of you who care and/or take the time to study the native peoples of the interior will learn the subtle differences.

Can't wait to go back home again!

Fortunately the OP hasn't been discouraged from visiting a native village - she's planning a visit to Barrow from the looks of things (though Barrow hardly seems a "village" IMO, but that's quibbling.)

FWIW, "iglu" is the Canadian inuit (most of NWT - over to Greenland) term for "house." Plenty of houses in Inuit areas of Alaska, but no iglus .

Distinctions of native Alaskan cultural and linguistic groups are lost on outsiders (and most non-Native Alaskans for that matter) just as distinctions between tribal groups and subgroups are lost on non-Native Americans in the lower 48. Travel is all about learning and discovering such things. People should not be criticised for not knowing things they have yet to learn. Visiting such places and coming away not getting it, well, that merits some concern...

This thread reminds me of a program on Canadian TV called "Talking to Americans." The interviewer would get folks like the governor of Arkansas to congratulate Canada on getting its first jet plane or an honest-to-goodness Harvard professor to rail against the fur seal hunt in Saskatchewan (a province that is not even close to an ocean).

I've enjoyed reading the responses to my original post. Yes, I do want to learn...that's why I have wanted to see something of native culture, to learn about Alaska's origins. For that reason we plan to spend several hours at the Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage. In addition, I'm checking out the recommended web sites.

As for Barrow...we are considering a trip there, but if it's just a touristy demo by residents, we may not want to go. Any comments on Barrow would be appreciated.

Thanks everyone for your input.

Sue

I have had fun reading this thread, and yet it so informative! ;-)

Pat, you need to be on Fodor's payroll! Such a polite, tactful, and succinct handling of the discussion here. Would you please follow me around the board, 'cause I usually want to cry when they "get all up in my grill," as the kids would say.

Aqua, I have had those moments, too. If you are on here trying to help for any length of time, it happens.

And SDSue, what a great discussion you started.

Don't you get to know some great people on these boards???!!! I often wonder if I'll ever get the opportunity to meet any in person~

Sue, just my opinion, the blanket-toss-dress-up-in-parkas tour thingy in Barrow has been going on for quite awhile, and it doesn't hurt anyone, even if it's a bit corny.

The thing is, the economics of eskimo areas [and there are two main groups in Alaska, Inupiat (northern) and Yupik (western)] are such that in summer most folk are pretty busy making a living - fishing, sealing or whaling (not so much anymore,) construction - when everything's frozen up 8 or 9 months of the year, you go like crazy when it's not. So tourism has to fit in around the edges so to speak, and it's only a few native communities (Barrow and Kotzebue most notably) that are large enough (a) to have tourist facilities like hotels or restaurants, and (b) to have enough people that some can spend the summers doing tourism-oriented commerce. Actual "villages" (i.e. with populations under 1000 or so) are too small and/or too hard to get to and/or too empty in the summer, to have those kinds of services and activities.

If you can afford at least one overnight (note this is a relative term in June-August - no "night" to speak of) then I think you might want to look at one of Alaska Airline's Kotzebue/Nome packages. Nome is not a traditional native settlement (it's a goldrush town) but fun and very historic, while Kotzebue is an Inupiat town that (IMO - not everyone agrees on this) has not been impacted by sudden wealth (oil-related royalties) to the degree that Barrow and the North Slope have experienced. Kotzebue is above the Arctic Circle (just) so if that's an aim, you can chalk up another major line of latitude. I think it's also more attractive than Barrow, but honestly that's not saying a lot. It's on the Arctic Ocean shore.

If you have the time, resources and inclination, a wonderful flightseeing excursion from Kotzebue is up the beautiful Kobuk River valley to villages like Selawik, Noorvik and Kiana, for a real glimpse of the vastness of the bush and maybe some personal contact with the people who have lived there for thousands of years.

[Soapbox] Too many people come to Alaska to see mountains and moose, and while there's nothing wrong with that, they should spend a little time learning and appreciating the human story too. It's ancient and fascinating and very diverse, and worth expending a little effort to include. [/Soapbox]

You're right BayouGal that this has turned into an interesting thread. SandDiegoSue, I hope you are planning to visit Homer, too. The Pratt Museum has some wonderful short videos to watch about life in Alaska. My favorite was homesteading in the 50s. I also liked the displays of tools and garments.