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CONTENTS:

- The Broken Cultural Link
- Restoring the Link
- Dan K'i Government

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The Broken Cultural Link

In the days of the Hudé Hudän, people learned their culture from their Elders from the time they were born. But the residential schools broke the link between generations by preventing children from learning their culture and by teaching them to be ashamed of it.

Even after the residential schools shut down in the 1950s, K'uch'ans continued to control the schools that Yukon First Nations students attended. These students were not taught about their own culture, history, or language, but instead learned those of the K'uch'ans.

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Choutla Residential School
1921
Carcross, Yukon


Credits:
(Yukon Archives PHO 91 78/67 #116)

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LSCFN Children performing a Northern Tutchone dance
2004
Carmacks, Yukon


Credits:
(© Lee Carruthers 2004)

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Restoring the Link

Today, people must spend most of their time in their communities, at school or at work, instead of living on the land. So it takes extra effort to stay focussed on strengthening culture in day-to-day life.

Restoring the Northern Tutchone culture is the primary goal of the LSCFN government. Many programs focus on bringing generations together again so that knolwedge can be passed on. Culture camps, language classes, & school concerts are just a few of these programs.

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Elder Lizzie Hall translates into Northern Tutchone at an LSCFN Self Governance session
2005
Carmacks, Yukon

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Dän K'i Government

LSCFN also works to bring Northern Tutchone culture into its everyday affairs by running its government Dän K'i ("Native Way"). Whenever we come together to discuss an issue, we ask the Elders "How was it done by the Hudé Hudän?". We try to make the old ways work with modern self-governement.

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LSCFN Elders come together for a Self Governence Session
2005
Carmacks, Yukon


Credits:
(© Lee Carruthers 2005)