Noatak village is the only substantial settlement on the Noatak river, 55 miles north of Kotzebue; it is an Inupiat Eskimo village where more than 90% of the population are native Alaskans. The original name1 was Noatagamut, meaning "inland river people". Noatak National Preserve is located in Western Arctic National Parklands, to the east of the village. [DC]