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South Naknek
 South
Naknek is located on the south bank of the Naknek River on the Alaska
Peninsula, 297 miles southwest of Anchorage. It lies just west of the
Katmai National Park and Preserve. It lies at approximately 58° 41' N
Latitude, 157° 00' W Longitude (Sec. 11, T017S, R047W, Seward Meridian).
The community is located in the Kvichak Recording District. The area
encompasses 96 sq. miles of land and 17 sq. miles of water.
This area was first settled over 6,000
years ago, and was historically Sugpiaq Aleut territory. The Sugpiaqs
traveled between Katmai and the Naknek River, pursuing seasonal food
sources. South Naknek was settled permanently after the turn of the
century as a result of salmon cannery development. Some villagers
relocated from New and Old Savonoski, near the "Valley of Ten Thousand
Smokes." This is one of the many villages along the coast where
Laplanders were brought in to herd reindeer. The herds were purchased in
the 1930s by the BIA for the local Native economy, and were a welcome
addition to villagers' diets.
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