and traditionally, Upper Kuskokwim and other all Alaskan Athabaskans have practiced animism and shamanism. Christianity The Upper Kuskokwim people are today strongly Russian Orthodox in faith, the result of missionary influence from the lower Kuskokwim and Yukon rivers beginning in the mid-nineteenth century. Churches were built in Nikolai and Telida in the early 1900s. Cuisine The Alaskan Athabaskan Indian ice cream () is dessert-like berries, Indian potato, and fish (whitefish, sheefish) mixed with fat (commonly Crisco now, but bear fat is occasionally used) and different from the Canadian Indian ice cream of First Nations in British Columbia. Modern tribal unions Tribal entities Alaska Native tribal entities for Upper Kuskokwim Athabaskans are recognized by the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs: ANCSA The Alaska Native Regional Corporations of Upper Kuskokwim Athabaskans were established in 1971 when the United States Congress passed the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA). Tanana Chiefs Conference The Tanana Chiefs Conference is a traditional tribal consortium of the all Central Alaskan Athabaskans, with the exception of the Southern Alaskan Athabaskans Dena'ina and Ahtna). Upper Kuskokwim Subregion McGrath Traditional Council, McGrath, members are Upper Kuskokwim Athabaskans Medfra Traditional Council, Medfra, members are Upper Kuskokwim Athabaskans Edzeno Native Council, Nikolai, members are Upper Kuskokwim Athabaskans Takotna Traditional Council, Takotna, members are Upper Kuskokwim Athabaskans and Central Alaskan Yup'ik people Telida Native Village Council, Telida, members are Upper Kuskokwim Athabaskans Further reading Raymond L. Collins 2000. Dichinanek' Hwt'ana: A history of the people of the Upper Kuskokwim who live in Nikolai and Telida, Alaska. Edited by: Sally Jo Collins McGrath, Alaska September 2000, Revised January 2004 References Alaskan Athabaskans