WHERE WE ARE

“I like that Hughes is small. I do a trapline every year and run my dogs.” —Payton

About Hughes

The Denaakk’e name for Hughes is ‘Høt’odleekkaakk’et’, ‘mouth of Høt’odleetno’ a creek on the opposite bank of the Koyukuk River. The village is located 73 river miles downriver from Allakaket, and was established in 1910 as a supply site for the Indian River gold miners. Alfred Isaac was one of the people who discovered gold there, which is why it is called Indian Mountain.

For as long as anyone can remember, the area has excellent hunting and fishing and provided for many Athabascan Native families living along the Koyukuk River. When gold prospecting declined, these families made Hughes their home. Today there are approximately 80 year-round residents. Transportation in winter is by airplane, snow machine, and dog team, and in the summer by airplane and boat.

Subsistence hunting, fishing, and the traditional ways of doing things continue to be an integral part of life. In the fall, Hughes is an especially good spot for seining sheefish and whitefish because the river there is shallow with a gravel-bottom and few stumps. Women do their own moose skin tanning, babiche, mitten and hat making, and also beautiful beading.