A relationship between these two language groups was proposed by Michael Fortescue in a 2011 paper.

[note 1] He theorized that their common ancestor might have been spoken around 4000 years ago.

[1] However Glottolog says that the evidence is insufficient to conclude a genealogical relationship between Nivkh and Chukotko-Kamchatkan.

[2] Proposed sound correspondences[1] Some cognates which include a sound change of Nivkh /ə/ and CK /æ/ are: t’əkə ‘edge of sleeping platform’ and CK tæγən 'near the edge of'' and Nivkh ərŋ 'mouth of a river' and CK ær 'flow out'.

Proposed Nivkh-Chukotko-Kamchatkan cognates[3] Chukotko-Kamchatkan and Nivkh have dual/plural distinction, however it has been lost in Chukchi.