Self-Determination
Serving Our Communities.
Alaska's North Slope, the homeland of the Iñupiat for over 10,000 years, spans 95,000 square miles. Stretching from the Brooks Range to the shores of the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas, it is home to eight distinct communities, each rich in its own history, culture, and traditions. Deeply connected to the land and the sea, these communities are guided by generations of stewardship and Indigenous knowledge, reflecting a shared strength rooted in resilience and cultural pride.
Average Cost of Living on the North Slope
Kaktovik
Nuiqsut
Utqiaġvik
Atqasuk
Anaktuvuk Pass
Wainwright
Point Lay
Point Hope
Use The Arrows To Explore All 8 Communities
Utqiaġvik (Barrow)
As the northernmost community in the United States, Utqiaġvik sits at the confluence of the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas. Situated 320 miles above the Arctic Circle, the community lies within the boundaries of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska and serves as the administrative and economic capital of the North Slope. Utqiaġvik, formerly known as Barrow, serves as the regional center for healthcare and education, housing the headquarters of key organizations including the Arctic Slope Native Association, Arctic Slope Regional Corporation, Iñupiat Community of the Arctic Slope, Iḷisaġvik College, and the North Slope Borough. It is also home to the Native Village of Barrow, the City of Utqiaġvik, and the Ukpeaġvik Iñupiat Corporation. Despite its role as a modern hub, the community remains deeply rooted in Iñupiat traditions, with subsistence whaling, hunting, and fishing forming the core of its local economy.
Tikiġaq (Point Hope)
Tikiġaq, or Point Hope, is a historic Iñupiat village located on the southern tip of the Lisburne Peninsula, bordered by the Chukchi Sea. As the second-largest populated village in the region, it is home for the Native Village of Point Hope, the City of Point Hope, and Tikigaq Corporation. The community is recognized as one of the best locations in the Alaskan Arctic for marine mammal hunting, with rich traditions rooted in bowhead whale, seal, and walrus harvesting. Archaeological evidence confirms continued occupancy for over 2,000 years.
Ulġuniq (Wainwright)
Ulġuniq, or Wainwright, is situated along the Northern coast along the Chukchi Sea and Wainwright Inlet. Wainwright is the third largest Iñupiat village in the North Slope Borough with over 550 residents. The community’s identity is deeply rooted in its ancestral heritage. Residents maintain strong cultural traditions, including subsistence practices such as whaling, hunting, and fishing. Wainwright is located entirely within the boundaries of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. The community is home to Olgoonik Corporation, the Village of Wainwright, and the City of Wainwright.
Nuiqsut
In 1973, 27 families moved back to their traditional hunting and camping grounds along the Kuukpik (Colville) River, resettling the village of Nuiqsut. During the first year, residents lived in tents before permanent structures were constructed. The resettlement of Nuiqsut is a pivotal event in the recent history of the region. Situated on the Kuukpik River Delta, Nuiqsut is another North Slope community situated entirely within the boundaries of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. It is home to approximately 411 residents, most of whom are Iñupiat. The residents rely on subsistence traditions to provide for their community including fall whaling, fishing, hunting, and gathering. Nuiqsut is home to Kuukpik Corporation, the Native Village of Nuiqsut, and the City of Nuiqsut.
Anaktuvuk Pass
Situated in the Brooks Range, Anaktuvuk Pass is home to approximately 350 Nunamiut (inland Iñupiat), Alaska’s last formerly nomadic indigenous group. Although the village was settled in the 1940s, the subsequent establishment of the Gates of the Arctic National Park enclosed their traditional lands. This designation severely restricted the community’s movement and year-round access to vital subsistence resources, particularly for caribou hunters. Anaktuvuk Pass is home to the Nunamiut Corporation, the Naqsragmiut Tribal Council, and the City of Anaktuvuk Pass.
Atqasuk
Atqasuk is located approximately 60 miles south of Utqiaġvik. It lies entirely within the boundaries of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska along the Meade River. It was once home to an historic coal mine that provided fuel for government and private facilities during and after World War II. The Meade River, a primary subsistence transportation corridor, provides access to inland resources such as fish, migratory birds, berries, and caribou to sustain the population of close to 300, mostly Iñupiat residents. Atqasuk is home to Atqasuk Corporation, the Native Village of Atqasuk, and the City of Atqasuk.
Kaktovik
Kaktovik is a perched on the northern shore of Barter Island in the Beaufort Sea. Kaktovik is the only community within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge boundaries. Archaeological investigations show that the site has been occupied for at least 11,000 years. Historically significant as a vital trade hub between Alaskan and Canadian Iñuit, the community has maintained its strong cultural connection to the region although its people were forcibly relocated by the federal government three different times. Today it is a blend of ancient tradition and storied maritime history, serving as the easternmost community in the North Slope and home to approximately 250 residents. The current location Kaktovik is home to Kaktovik Iñupiat Corporation, the Native Village of Kaktovik, and the City of Kaktovik.
Kali (Point Lay)
Kali, or Point Lay, is a coastal Iñupiat village along the Chukchi Sea, protected by the open ocean by the Kasegaluk Lagoon. The community is home to approximately 229 residents. Mirroring North Slope traditions, subsistence hunting is central to life in Point Lay. Hunting of beluga and bowhead whales, along with fishing, plays a central role in the community’s subsistence way of life. Point Lay is home to the Cully Corporation and the Native Village of Point Lay.
