Koyukuk is traditional Koyukukhotana Koyukon Athabascan Indian village. The traditional name for the village is Meneelgahaadze T’oh or “the village at the base of the bluff”. The village is located at the confluence of Yookkene (“Big River”) or Yukon River and Kk’uyetl’ots’ene (“Headwater Willow”) or the Koyukuk River. Because of its prominent location at the confluence of the Koyukuk and Yukon Rivers, Athabascan people gathered at Meneelghaadze T’oh for hundreds of years. It is said among Native people that Koyukuk is the land of the beautiful people, a place that people like to visit, a place where they have a good time. Athabascan linguist (and resident), Eliza Jones explains that this is because Koyukuk is known for its hospitality. Koyukuk also has a tradition of many musicians, singer and songwriters. The village is approximately 90 miles south of the Arctic Circle, 225 miles east of Nome, 290 miles west of Fairbanks and 30 miles west of Galena. The village lies adjacent to the Koyukuk National Wildlife Refuge and the Innoko National Wildlife Refuge. The geographic are of the community encompasses 6.2 square miles of land and 0.1 square miles of water. The town site itself is within the boundaries of Doyon Limited (an Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act Regional Corporation) View Doyon Limited website , and Gana-A’ Yoo Limited an ANCSA Village Corporation View Gana-A’ Yoo Limited websitey.