Savoonga and Gambell are the only two communities still in existence on St. Lawrence Island, which lies 164 miles west of the Alaskan mainland. Reindeer were introduced to the island in 1900 after a famine in the late 1800's. The herd is no longer managed, but reindeer make up part of the subsistence diet of the island residents. Known as the “Walrus Capital of the World,” Savoonga’s residents rely on walrus not only for a substantial portion of their diet, but also for its ivory. Savoonga is well known for the exceptional quality of the ivory carvings produced there. It is not uncommon for residents living elsewhere in the state to return to the village during the walrus-hunting season.

The indigenous culture here is the Siberian Yupik, who share language and heritage with the Siberian Yupik of the Chukotka Peninsula in the Russian Far East. Families that once traveled freely from one country to another were separated during the Cold War. In the early 1980's, families were reunited, and once again can travel back and forth. Special provisions allow island residents to travel between the two countries without a visa. Siberian Yupik is the first language of those who live here, and their heritage is strong, with traditional festivals held to celebrate the Yupik way of life.

St. Lawrence Island is jointly owned by Savoonga and Gambell. The communities chose not to participate in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) of 1981, and instead were given title to 1.136 million acres.

According to the 2000 census, there are approximately 700 Savoonga residents living in 160 housing units and 640 residents living in Gambell in 187 housing units.