Bering Land Bridge National Preserve

10/06/2026

The Seward Peninsula Subsistence Regional Advisory Council will meet at the Mini Convention Center in Nome next week!

Seward Peninsula Subsistence Regional Advisory Council to meet in Nome at the Mini Convention Center

The Seward Peninsula Subsistence Regional Advisory Council will meet October 14-15 at the Mini Convention Center in Nome. The meeting will begin daily at 09:00 a.m. (AKST).

The Council will develop recommendations on proposals to change federal subsistence fisheries regulations and fisheries closures. They will also discuss other issues related to subsistence in the Seward Peninsula Region, including 2028 Fisheries Resource Monitoring Program Priority Information Needs and Wildlife Special Action WSA26-01, regarding the Western Arctic Caribou Herd.

The public is encouraged to attend and participate in this meeting, and will have a chance to share their thoughts on current fisheries proposals and closures in the region, found here: https://www.doi.gov/subsistence/fisheries/2027-2029_Proposals_and_Closure_Reviews

To join the meeting by teleconference, dial toll-free (833) 436-1163, then when prompted enter the phone conference ID: 905 207 333 #. The meeting can also be joined via Microsoft Teams.

Find meeting materials and Microsoft Teams link here: https://www.doi.gov/subsistence/regions/sp_materials

To request copies by mail, fax, or email, contact the Office of Subsistence Management.

Reasonable Accommodations: The Federal Subsistence Board is committed to providing for all participants. Please make requests for sign language interpreters, assistive listening devices or other reasonable accommodations at least seven business days before the meeting. Contact the Office of Subsistence Management at (907) 478-1456 or email [email protected]. All requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

09/25/2026

We’re Hiring a Seasonal Maintenance Worker! Apply by October 5, 2026!

Anticipated start: November 2026
Salary: $35.38 - $41.27 per hour
This is a temporary position, not to exceed 1560 hours

Join our team and help keep park facilities running smoothly! Duties may include:
• Use a variety of materials, tools, and equipment to maintain and repair buildings and grounds.
• Complete minor carpentry work—repairing or installing doors, shelves, racks, windows, trim, cabinets, and more.
• Perform routine upkeep at multiple sites, including minor fixes.
• Support additional tasks such as painting, roofing, welding, or assisting higher grade staff.
• Diagnose and repair issues with buildings, structures, equipment, and utilities.
• Assist electricians and HVAC technicians with park electrical and mechanical systems.
• Operate and maintain vehicles to move supplies and materials. May also operate vehicles for hauling materials and moving snow.

Apply here! https://www.usajobs.gov/job/885407300
For more information or questions, please contact Andrew Bell at [email protected] or 907-412-3699. Quyanna!

09/24/2026

Join us for a month-long Junior Ranger adventure this October! Every Wednesday from 3:30 - 4:30 pm, kids will explore a different Junior Ranger activity book—learning about wildlife, conservation, and the stories of Bering Land Bridge National Preserve. Together, we’ll tackle puzzles, games, challenges, and discovery activities that build curiosity, confidence, and stewardship skills.

Throughout the month, Junior Rangers (ages 6-12) will work toward earning four different Junior Ranger badges, one for each themed booklet. Junior Rangers will receive guidance and encouragement as they complete activities, share what they’ve learned, and connect with the park in meaningful, kid-friendly ways.

Schedule:
Oct 7 – Become a Bering Land Bridge Junior Ranger!
Oct 14 – Become a Junior Paleontologist!
Oct 21 – Become a Junior Angler!
Oct 28 – Become a Junior Ranger Night Explorer!

Programs are free and will take place at the Bering Land Bridge Heritage Center in the Sitnasuak Building, 214 Front Street. Parent/guardian must sign permission slip. Healthy snack provided courtesy of Alaska Geographic. Questions? Please contact Ranger Kat at [email protected] or 907-759-8020.

09/18/2026

Next Friday, September 25, from 12:00–1:00 pm, we are pleased to welcome author and historian Ch’igiionta’ (She Holds a Child) for a presentation on her upcoming book, "The Seward Peninsula 1815–1840." In it, she describes events in this time period and their subsequent effects on the region.

Ch'igiioonta' is the author of “Iyagaagmiut: People Who Live Among the Rock Caches,” Arivahan Books, 2025. She is a direct seventh-generation descendant of Nendaaghe hut'aane Dena, in the household of Tl'eevihti' and a sixth-generation member of the Gehikti' family. She lives and works in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Can't make it on Friday? Join the presentation on Thursday, September 24th, 12:00 - 1pm at the Katirvik Cultural Center!

Questions? Please contact Ranger Kat at [email protected] or 907-759-8020. The Bering Land Bridge Heritage Center is located in the Sitnasuak Building, 214 Front Street. Look for the polar bear! Stop in for a visit Monday – Friday from 1 -5pm. Quyanna!

09/12/2026

Quyanna! Thank you for spending this week with us as we celebrated the one‑year anniversary of the Grand Opening of the Bering Land Bridge Heritage Center! Be sure to stop by and say hi to Environmental Education Intern Abby and Ranger Kat — they’re here daily to welcome you into the Heritage Center. We are currently open for Fall Hours: Monday through Friday, from 1 pm to 5 pm. We're located in the Sitnasuak Building on Front Street in Sitnasuaq (Nome). Look for the polar bear! Itiġnaatuq!

NPS Photo

09/11/2026

At the heart of the Bering Land Bridge Heritage Center story are the partnerships that grew and strengthened along the way. These connections brought people together, inspired collaboration, and helped make the project a true community celebration. We are deeply grateful to all partners who generously shared their knowledge, stories, laughter, and guidance at every step of the project. Together, they helped create a vibrant, welcoming space that celebrates the beauty of this place and the people who call it home.

Sitnasuak Native Corporation played a central role, supporting the renovation of the space and the fabrication and installation of the exhibits. The Sitnasuak Elders Committee Exhibit Sub‑Committee curated a collection of artwork and artifacts that celebrates local culture and history.

The Tribal Workgroup brought together dedicated members from Kiŋigin (Wales), Kigiqtaq (Shishmaref), and Ipnatchiaq (Deering). Each person contributed their time and expertise to shape the vision of the exhibits and ensure the story of the preserve is told through the eyes of their communities and people. Kawerak, Inc. and Maniilaq Association supported the Workgroup by helping members travel to meetings. The Katirvik Cultural Center led the construction of the drying rack and provided key support and guidance throughout the project.

All of this was made possible through the generous support of the National Park Foundation and The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust.

We’d love for you to stop by the Heritage Center to experience what these incredible partnerships brought to life. We’re open Monday – Friday from 1 pm to 5 pm. We look forward to seeing you!

NPS Photos

09/10/2026

Come check out the videos available at the Bering Land Bridge Heritage Center! The videos offer visitors a deeper understanding of Inupiaq culture and highlight subsistence activities that take place throughout the year.

You can find these videos at the gathering table underneath the fish rack. The fish rack features one of the region’s important subsistence activities: fishing. In summer, species such as iqalugzruaq (salmon) are found throughout the area. The replica fish rack shows how fish are dried here. It was constructed locally by Jared M. Miller, in partnership with Kawerak, Inc., using driftwood sourced from the beaches of Sitnasuaq (Nome).

Stop by and check it out! We are open Monday through Friday from 1 pm to 5 pm.

NPS Photo

09/09/2026

At Bering Land Bridge National Preserve, wildlife isn’t just something you see on the land — it’s also part of the art that welcomes you to the Heritage Center!

A highlight of the new outdoor exhibits at the Heritage Center is four life‑size animal silhouettes. Students from Shishmaref, Wales, Deering, and Nome created the artwork for these silhouettes.

The idea for a Student Art Contest grew from conversations between the Bering Land Bridge team and the Tribal Workgroup. They were eager to invite youth to help shape the exhibits and to celebrate community creativity and cultural connections. To bring that vision to life, hundreds of students across the region were invited to take part! The park traveled to schools to host art sessions during class and after school, encouraging many students to join in.

The winning designs were turned into full‑size animal silhouettes that now greet visitors as they arrive at the Heritage Center. Each piece is bright, meaningful, and rooted in place. Together, they form a beautiful tribute to the cultural heritage of the region.

We’re excited to share these designs and are proud of the creativity and talent of the students who helped create this exhibit.

The animals featured are:
Amaġuq (gray wolf), with artwork depicting animals in the sunset created by Chloe Milligrock from Sitnasuaq (Nome), AK.

Kanuq (snow goose), with artwork depicting a mountain in Wales created by Hailey Komonaseak from Kiŋigin (Wales), AK.

Ugruk (bearded seal), with artwork depicting the northern lights created by Kallie Jones from Kigiqtaq (Shishmaref), AK.

Qunŋiq (reindeer), with artwork depicting seals in water and sea ice created by Calvin Moto from Ipnatchiaq (Deering), AK.

NPS Photos

09/08/2026

When planning the exhibits at the Bering Land Bridge Heritage Center, the park and Tribal Workgroup were eager to highlight niġipiaq, or real food. These are foods harvested, gathered, and enjoyed from the land and sea in and around Bering Land Bridge National Preserve. To bring this idea to life, the group held a potluck during the first visit from the exhibit fabricators, sharing foods that represent the region’s rich culinary traditions. The foods were photographed and 3D scanned by the fabricators. The replica foods on display at the Heritage Center are nearly a direct copy of that potluck! And they sure do make us hungry!

Some traditional foods featured include:
Suġat (blueberries)
Maktaq (whale skin and blubber) and an ulu (a woman’s knife)
Panaluk (dry seal meat)
Qaqqaq (crab)
Suzrat (willow greens)
Mizigaq (seal oil)

What’s your favorite dish on the table?

NPS Photos

09/07/2026

Over millions of years, shifts between warmer and colder climate periods caused sea levels to rise and fall, reshaping coastlines around the world. These changes created—and later submerged—Beringia, a vast landmass that once connected Asia and North America. Today, Bering Land Bridge National Preserve helps protect and interpret a part of this important landscape.

Movement on such a massive scale can be hard to visualize. That’s why the animated display in the Bering Land Bridge Heritage Center is such a valuable tool. It begins by showing what the region may have looked like about 21,000 years ago, when Beringia was last fully present, and then illustrates how it changed over time to become what we see today. Stop in and check it out during your next visit!

NPS Photo