Housing 

The Athabaskans traditionally lived in small groups of 20 to 40 people that moved systematically through their territory.   Because food was difficult to obtain, most Athabaskans did not live in large or permanent villages.  

Annual summer fish camps and winter villages served as base camps. Several traditional house types were used depending on the season and regional resources. During the long, cold winters, some Athabaskans lived in partially underground houses. Others lived in rectangular log houses with sod roofs. Still others lived in dome-shaped structures covered with caribou and moose skin or sewn birch bark. They constructed their summer houses of birch bark. The Athabaskans built small shelters with brush or birch branches for temporary camps.

While many Alaskan Athabaskan groups traveled constantly, the Tanaina and Ingalik groups moved only seasonally. They lived in larger, more permanent villages and traveled to designated family fishing, hunting, and trapping sites. Some of their winter villages had up to a dozen houses. In addition to family dwellings, villages often had sweathouses, fish and meat smokehouses, and small burial houses over graves. Many villages had a large community ceremonial house. 

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