Historically, the Iñupiat were distributed in small, widely dispersed settlements often located on high river banks that provided good access to fishing sites. They lived in semi-subterranean, sod-covered houses during the fall and winter. In the spring and summer, individual families moved to fishing spots where temporary dwellings were often made with willow and covered with caribou hides. Historically, sheefish, whitefish, salmon, northern pike, caribou, hares, migratory birds, and marine mammals were major subsistence resources used by residents of the Selawik and lower Kobuk rivers. These subsistence traditions continue today, although methods of harvest and travel have changed over time.

Inland areas of northwest Alaska remained largely unknown to the western world until the late 19th century. The first Euroamerican explorers in the Selawik and Kobuk rivers - George Stoney and JC Cantwell - arrived in 1884-1886.  Limited contact with Euroamerican culture allowed the people of the region to retain their Iñupiaq culture and traditions in the face of a rapidly developing North American continent. Gradually, permanent villages were established throughout northwest Alaska as missionaries opened churches and schools. The village of Selawik was founded in its current location in 1908. In 1897-98, a brief gold rush known as the Kobuk River Stampede brought nearly 2,000 gold seekers to the area. Most left quickly upon learning the reports of gold discovery were false.

Sustained contact with Euroamerican culture did not begin until the early 20th century. A century of western influence since then has brought many changes. Seasonal movements of families from fishing and hunting areas have been influenced by modern technology and an expanded cash economy. The dog team has been replaced by the snowmachine; motorboats move faster and carry more than the traditional kayak. The rifle has replaced the bow and spear. What remains, however, is the cultural knowledge of the land and the resources that has sustained the Iñupiaq way of life in this area for thousands of years.