As descendants of the original caretakers of the Qizhjeh Vena area, we are dedicated to protecting the ełnena for future generations.

Qizhjeh Vena is the Dena’ina name for Lake Clark

The Past and Future: Dena’ina History and Culture

The history of Qizhjeh Vena and the people who have lived here for centuries have a model for sustainability that others can learn from. Humanity needs to be looking to Indigenous people to learn what sustainability truly means. Our QVA team is extremely fortunate to come from a culture that still remembers the knowledge of our ancestors. Central to this is the knowledge that we, human beings, are not separate from the earth. From this place of interconnectedness, our cultural lifeway evolved. Being in good relationship to each other, to the earth and all of life, influences harmony and balance.

The Dena’ina language is a verb-based language. The name of our organization, Qizhjeh Vena, means ‘a place where people gathered lake’, and the name represents the place, our history, and our culture. Like many Indigenous people around the world, Dena'ina people have a history where colonizers introduced changes that affected them in many ways.

Our focus is to pass on the history and knowledge of our ancestors. This includes visual maps, the deep sensing and attunement with the earth, the dreams and visions, the stories, and the balance and harmony of relationships. As we learn from the past and pass on what is most valuable, we also honor and uplift individual gifts, talents and passions. QVA's path forward taps into spiritually and bridges the past with future.

General Aviation Route

Qizhjeh Vena is not connected to the Alaska road system; the only way in and out of region is by plane.

Our Sukdu (Story)

It all began around the fish-cutting table; where we share stories, laughter, and support each other as we work on salmon. We were inspired by traditional values that have sustained our connection to the Dena'ina culture, ełnena (earth), and all life. We knew it was time to share our values with others and thus, the seeds were planted for Qizhjeh Vena Alaska.

The photo below was taken at the Evanoff Family fish camp on the Newhalen River which is one of the tributaries off of Qizhjeh Vena. Photo Left to right: Shavela Dominguez, Danielle Stickman, Karen Evanoff, Fawn Silas, Kiana Till

Karen Evanoff in 2007

Karen Evanoff, one of the co-founders, had envisioned creating a gathering place on Qizhjeh Vena as a child and the vision continued on into adulthood. In 2007, Karen won $15,000 to start an eco-tourism business for woman and she used the funds to do a trial trip and further develop her vision.
Left to Right: Danielle Stickman, Karen Evanoff, Kiana Till
In 2021, as Kiana was finishing her degree at Alaska Pacific University, she asked her long-time mentor, Karen Evanoff, and her daughter, Danielle Stickman to team up with her on a tourism business plan idea to enter into the UAA Business Plan Competition. They broadened their business plan and changed the name to Qizhjeh Vena LLC. Together they won the grand prize, tied for the People's Choice award, and won the Fortune 500 award.
Left to right: Fawn Silas, Kiana Till, Karen Evanoff, Danielle Stickman
After the business competition, ideas continued to evolve. In 2022, the name and business structure changed to be Qizhjeh Vena Alaska (QVA), incorporated into a nonprofit with 501c3 nonprofit status. During this time, Fawn Silas joined the QVA board and became one of the co-founders. Additionally, an advisory committee formed.
Left to Right: Kiana Till, Fawn Silas, Karen Evanoff, and Kemp - seller of Koksetna Lodge
Over the years, Karen stayed connected with Kemp, the owner of Koksetna Lodge, and she asked him to keep her in his mind if he was ever going to sell the lodge. In 2023, Kemp reached out to Karen and shared that he was planning on selling Koksetna in 2024 and he would like to sell it to QVA.
The purchase seemed impossible. However, QVA’s goal was far bigger than a simple lodge and land purchase. The QVA team knew the Dena’ina Ancestors were behind them.
Left to Right: Kiana Till, Aurora Warrior, Karen Evanoff
Everything came together in the last four months leading up to signing the paperwork and receiving the title to “Koksetna Lodge” in August 2024.
The QVA team are continually inspired by the support they received. It took many networks and community members to make this happen. This all wouldn’t be possible without NDN Collective who came to QVA’s aide in the final hours and provided the loan for the property purchase. NDN Collective provided business education, financial expertise, regenerative literacy, legal advice and continued to support QVA as loan relatives.

2025 Wellness Retreat at the Center

Photo taken by Tatiana Sowl

For More Information on the Culture, Language, and Way of Life of the Dena’ina Athabascan People

Visit the links to the right.

The videos and information listed here are not products of Qizhjeh Vena Alaska but are public information provided by various entities; sources are credited in links and descriptions.

Quk' Taz'un, 'The Sun Is Rising', is an outdoor learning camp in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve that encourages youth to engage with Dena'ina history and culture.
Karen Evanoff led Quk’ Taz’un for a decade when she worked at the Lake Clark National Park and Preserve and since her retirement in 2024 continues to lead the camp through Qizhjeh Vena Alaska.
The Alaska Office of the Smithsonian's Arctic Studies Center hosted the Dena'ina Language Institute from October 4-8, 2010 at the Living Our Cultures exhibit gallery located in the Anchorage Museum. Elders Helen Dick and Gladys Evanoff shared their knowledge about Dena'ina heritage objects in the Smithsonian collections, using the objects as tools to teach the Dena'ina Athabascan language.
The Heart of Alaska's Salmon Stronghold - A short film by Save Bristol Bay
“The fishing village of Nondalton, Alaska sits 14 miles away from the giant proposed Pebble Mine. Water from the site migrates into the lakes and streams surrounding the village, supporting millions of sockeye salmon that spawn in the area.”
Part 1 of a documentary celebrating the traditional knowledge and life-ways of the Dena'ina People of South-Central Alaska as they have been passed down through the generations and are still being practiced today.
Part 2 of a documentary celebrating the traditional knowledge and life-ways of the Dena'ina People of South-Central Alaska as they have been passed down through the generations and are still being practiced today.
This video features a collection of artifacts and displays from the Anchorage Museum’s Dena’inaq’ Huch’ulyeshi - the Dena’ina Way of Living exhibit displayed in 2013 to 2014.
A KTVA - story that features the Evanoff Fishcamp in collaboration with the National Park Service to work together to better understand our natural resources.
Qizhjeh Vena (now known as Lake Clark) is the largest lake located in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve in southwest Alaska.
Lake Clark was formed by glaciers more than ten thousand (10,000) years ago during the close of the last ice age.
Kijik (Qizhjeh) National Historic Landmark and Archeological District contains more than a dozen archeological sites including a village abandoned at the beginning of the 20th century. It is one of only three areas in Alaska with both of the designation as a National Historic Landmark and an Archeological District.
Ye’uh Qach’dalts’iyi - 'What We Live On from the Outdoors'
For many generations the Dena’ina people have passed down the values and techniques necessary to sustain their culture and way of life. To this day, Dena’ina people continue to lead lives which are tied inextricably to this place.
The Telaquana Trail is a historic Dena'ina Athabascan route from Telaquana Lake to Qizhjeh (Kijik Village) on Qizhjeh Vena (Lake Clark) that served as both a transportation corridor and was an important subsistence area. Crossing the headwaters of three of Alaska’s richest river drainages; the Kuskokwim, the Nushugak, and the Kvichak Rivers, the ancestral Telaquana Trail is likely one portion of a longer route that connected the people of Cook Inlet with the people of the Kuskokwim and Yukon rivers of Interior Alaska.