News

Cleaning up of TKC settlement parcels

The Ta’an Kwach’an Council has money available through Government of Canada INAC funding to clean up some of TKC settlement parcels (C-10B and C-37B).

Interested people would need supply their own;

  • Insurance
  • Equipment (excavator, trailer, truck, etc.)
  • Supplies

Please contact Phil Emerson, Renewable Resources Technician, at (867) 668-3613 x 602 or at pemerson@taan.ca

Voices Across the Water

June 1st marks the month long journey of four boat builders and their assistants who will build a birch bark canoe, a spruce dugout canoe, a moose skin boat and a seal skin qayaq on the Whitehorse waterfront at the Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre. Indigenous artists will adorn and paint the boats during the AdÃka Cultural Festival from June 30 to July 6, followed by a feast and ceremonial launch.

Over many millennia, northern peoples used the natural resources of their rugged homeland to sustain their lives. In this vast land of long winters and short summers, travel was a necessity. People built watercraft to travel and hunt on the ocean, to cross fast flowing rivers, to set fishnets in lakes, and to carry food and families. They were ingenious and industrious in finding materials, experimenting with designs and honing their skills to build efficient, elegant watercraft.

YFNCT President Shirlee Frost is very excited about the project: “These four watercraft are symbolic of the faith that sustained our people through tough times. Elders and young people have been and are resilient and resourceful. Like the watercraft of past times we carried our cultures forward to this new day – a time of great pride and celebration for us as Indigenous peoples.”

The four types of boats being built for this project addressed the needs of people in different northern environments. Visitors will learn about the landscapes and lifestyles of Yukon Athapaskan and Inland Tlingit people, and the Inuvialuit of the Arctic. The builders will explain the materials, tools and techniques they use. Elders will share stories about travel and life with the boats in times past. The site will vibrate with the fresh aroma of wood shavings, the echo of adze and axe, the soft feel of moose hide and sealskin, and the cadence of northern Indigenous languages.

The builders anticipate long days and hard work to complete their boats. They look forward to sharing their experiences with visitors, knowing they are reviving significant cultural treasures.

The KDCC Cultural Programs Coordinator Krista Reid says: “We are absolutely thrilled to partner in the watercraft project with YFNCT. We see this as an incredible opportunity to engage the community and visitors with the amazing Cultural programming and workshops that will be offered on site at the Cultural Centre. KDCC welcomes thousands of visitors throughout the year and we are grateful to have the opportunity to be a part of the sharing and connections that are sure to be made for the duration of the project.”

It is in this spirit that YFNCT joins with other Canadians – young and old, new arrivals and long time settlers, to commemorate Canada’s 150th anniversary of Confederation. Like the traditional boats of northern people, Dan Kwanje ‘Ã-Naan: Voices Across the Water carries messages for all of us and for people around the world. We have only to listen, to learn and to share in this time of reconciliation – moving forward safely together into the waters of tomorrow.

Everyone is invited to participate in this exciting boat building project:

  • Watch our boats take shape ~ boat builders and apprentices on site at the Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre from June 1 – 30
  • Listen to our stories ~ Elders and others will share stories about travel and life on the water in these boats from June 1 – July 6
  • Participate ~ in hands-on learning experiences in workshops, demonstrations and presentations from June 1 – July 6
  • Help us celebrate ~ at a ceremonial launch and feast for the four boats on July 6
  • See the boats in our communities ~ after the festival the four boats will move to their permanent homes:
    • Birch Bark Canoe – Nacho Nyak Dun Cultural Centre, Mayo
    • Spruce Dugout Canoe – “ Da Ku Cultural Centre, Haines Junction
    • Seal Skin Qayaq – Yukon Transportation Museum, Whitehorse
    • Moose Skin Boat – Teslin Tlingit Heritage Centre, Teslin

YFNCT acknowledges the generous funding and support of:

  • Canada 150 Fund, Canadian Heritage
  • Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre
  • Canada Council for the Arts
  • Community Development Fund, Yukon Economic Development
  • Culture Quest
  • Parks Canada

For more information contact:

Alexis Hougen YFNCT Marketing Manager T: 867-667-7698, ext. 205 E: info@yfnct.ca

Anne Mease YFNCT Project Coordinator T: 867-667-7698, ext. 201 E: projects@yfnct.ca

Interested in a summer job with TKC?

For High School students

Are you in high school and interested in a career in the outdoors? Apply for a (paid) summer position with the Lands, Resources and Heritage department.

The position lasts for the duration of the summer break (end of June to late August).

Please send your resume to Bobbie Kufeldt before May 26th.

For Post-Secondary students

Are you interested in a summer job with TKC?

Are you a TKC Post-Secondary Student who is interested in applying your skills and abilities in a summer position at TKC? We are creating several student jobs this summer that are relevant to our students’ programs of study and career goals.

Do you want to gain valuable hands-on experience? Do you want an opportunity to contribute to your community?

Help us create summer student jobs that will help you get ahead!!!

 To discuss what kind of summer job you would love to see at TKC this summer, please contact Jessica Bryant at (867) 668-3613 ext. 408 or jbryant@taan.ca.

  • Positions will run for 12-weeks between May – August.

Southern Tutchone Ta’an Dialect language app

The Ta’an Kwäch’än Council, in partnership with Ogoki Learning and the Yukon Native Language Centre, is proud to announce the release of its brand new language app.

The Southern Tutchone language app is available for download on Google Play (for Android devices). iPhone and iPad users can download the app from iTunes.

Users will be able to practice the Southern Tutchone language offline on their tablets and smartphones. The app uses audio from the late Irene Smith, provided by the Yukon Native Language Centre.

There are about 450 words, expressions and phrases contained in the app. Categories include greetings, people, places, numbers, colors, animals, plants, food, time, weather, body parts and more.

The idea for the app was initially brought to Council’s attention in late fall by Deputy Chief Michelle Telep, who had been to a conference and heard a woman’s story about her community’s efforts to develop an app that would help revitalize their language.

The app will be provided free of charge based on Council’s recommendation.

Read the CBC Yukon story on the app // listen to the CBC radio piece // see the video or read the Yukon News story.

For more information please contact Chantelle Blackjack, Heritage Programs Coordinator, who participated in the creation of the app: cblackjack@taan.ca

Language classes

Language classes are available through Yukon College to all TKC citizens. Please contact Chantelle Blackjack (867-668-3613 x 607) for further information.

North American Indigenous Games 2017

You can find information from the host at www.naig2017.to

There are some practices and trials coming up:

Rifle shooting:
Practices
September 10th 10-12
September 28th 5-7
Trials October 1st 9-2

Archery:
Starting September 6th
Tuesdays 6 to 8 pm Thursday 6 to 8 pm Sundays 11 am to 1 pm
Trials October 2nd 9-2

All events will be held at the Whitehorse Biathlon Range.

If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact:

Tara Wardle
First Nation/Community Recreation Consultant
Sport & Recreation Branch
Dept. of Community Services
Ph:867-667-3778
Fax: 867-393-6416
1-800-661-0408 ext. 3778
Tara.Wardle@gov.yk.ca

Invitation to harvest Chum Salmon

The Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in (TH) have extended an invitation to all Yukon First Nations to harvest Chum Salmon in their traditional territory this fall. Please see attachment letter from the TH Fish and Wildlife Branch for full details on harvesting Chum Salmon in TH Traditional Territory.

Any further questions please contact:

LRH Manager–                                             David Irvine at (867) 668-3613 Ext 601

Fish and Wildlife Coordinator–                  Deb Fulmer at (867) 668-3613 Ext 603

Renewable Resource Technician–            Phil Emerson at (867) 668-3613 Ext 602

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