The Native Village of Chitina is a sovereign, federally recognized Tribe, exercising inherent sovereignty over its traditional territories within the Copper River Basin of Alaska. The Tribe's sovereignty predates the United States Constitution and is recognized under federal law, including the Indian Reorganization Act, the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, and subsequent federal legislation and executive orders.
Tsedi Na' in the Ahtna language, stands upon the ancestral lands of the Ahtna Athabascan people, who have inhabited the Copper River Basin for thousands of years. Long before the establishment of modern governments, the Ahtna people governed themselves through sophisticated systems of kinship, reciprocity, and collective stewardship. They lived in harmony with the rivers, forests, mountains, and wildlife of this extraordinary landscape, guided by values passed from generation to generation through story, ceremony, and practice. Our Elders taught us that the land provides, and in return, we are obligated to care for it, not only for ourselves, but for those who will come after us.
We honor our ancestors, the leaders, hunters, gatherers, and caretakers who sustained our people through centuries of change. We honor our Elders, whose wisdom continues to guide us and whose voices remind us of who we are. And we honor our children and grandchildren, the future generations for whom we hold these lands and resources in trust.