As you explore, remember that northerners are fiercely independent people who value their privacy. They can also be overwhelmingly hospitable if you treat them with respect. Never put up your tent in or near a village without first asking permission. When visiting a Native Alaskan village or any small isolated community, look people straight in the eye and be the first to say hello. Remember, you are the intruder, so you should be the one to make the effort to put them at ease.

Under no circumstances should you walk into a small settlement, fish camp, or other personal area and immediately start photographing people. This is rude and may well get folks angry. Most people are happy to pose for a photo if you simply take the time to talk and express a genuine interest in them and their lives. But if they say no, just move on.

There may also be times when it is best simply to leave before tempers flare, particularly when people have been drinking heavily (an all-too-common experience in some villages), or when their politics stray to the don’t-tread-on-me fringe.