Northwest Arctic Borough School District

Kiana

Kiana means 'a place where three rivers meet.'Kiana was established long ago as the central village of the Kobuk River Kowagmiut Inupiat Eskimos. In 1909, Kiana ('ky-AN-nuh”) became a supply center for the Squirrel River placer mines. A post office was established in 1915 and the city government was incorporated in 1964. About 400 people live in Kiana, 93% Alaska Native. Kiana sits on the north bank of the Kobuk River where it meets the Squirrel River, 57 air miles east of Kotzebue.