OUR PEOPLE | OUR GOVERNMENT | OUR LAND | OUR LAWS | ACTIVITIES & EVENTS Our People The Selkirk First Nation is comprised of Northern Tutchone people who possess a rich, diverse and vibrant culture.
The Northern Tutchone people have their own way of social organization, which is known as the clan system. There are two clans: Wolf and Crow. Clan membership is based on the mother, which means a child belongs to its mother’s clan. Whatever clan a person was born into, this is the clan that they will have throughout their lives. The clans represent who we are, our connection to other families and our connections to our environment.
The Northern Tutchone people’s society was based on the concept of the group – emphasis was not placed on the individual but the community as a whole.
Elders were, and continue to be, the threads of our community, holding it together. Their roles are an extensive list of responsibilities that assist in the safekeeping of the traditional cultural ways.
Elders hold knowledge and are our history keepers.
The two clans, Wolf and Crow, are represented in the Selkirk First Nation logo Our Government all ourCitizens throughout the Yukon. autonomous governance and government programs for both territorial and municipal governments. We provide having many of the authorities and responsibilities of The Selkirk First Nationisarecognized government, Self-Government and Final Agreements atMinto Landing. In July of 1997,we, the Selkirk First Nationsigned our Our Government resources, governments and programs. make decisions and enactlaws inrelation totheir lands, which allows Yukon’s Self-governing First Nations to for the negotiation of Self-government Agreements, Nation’s Final Agreement. The Final Agreements provided The UFA formed the basisfor the negotiation of eachFirst Agreement (UFA). of Yukon First Nations (CYFN), signed anUmbrella Final the Council for Yukon Indians –now known asthe Council Government of Canada,the Government of the Yukon, and On May 29,1993,and after 20years of negotiations, the government for Yukon First Nations. foundation for the negotiation of land claims and self- Today for ourChildren Tomorrow. Thisdocument laid the travelled toOttawa topresent aproposal called Together Brotherhood (now the Council of Yukon First Nations) In 1973,anorganizationcalled the Yukon Native Self-Government &FinalAgreements
Our governing institutions are: • The General Assembly • The Elders Council • The Chief and Council • The Family Heads • The Justice Council (not yet set up, but is in the initial planning stages)
We collaborate with the federal and territorial governments in a government-to-government relationship to ensure that our Citizens receive programs and services comparable to those provided across the territory.
As a government, we have rights and benefits under our final agreements and power over our lands and resources.
As with all Canadian governments, the Selkirk First Nation government operates within the framework of the Canadian Constitution. Our jurisdictions and authorities are intended to operate in a manner consistent with federal and territorial jurisdictions.
“We, the Selkirk People, exercise our inherent right to Self Government and having Aboriginal rights, title and interest since the beginning of time in a vast area of land, provide for ourselves a basis for our First Nation, for our law and for our government, in order to assure for ourselves today and for countless generations in the future, protection of our language and culture, and a life that fulfills our uniqueness
as human beings and sustains our well-being.” –Selkirk First Nation Constitution Preamble Our Land For more information about accessing Settlement Land, please contact us, the Selkirk First Nation Government office at 867.537.3331 The Selkirk First Nation people have lived in the Traditional Territory of the Northern Tutchone for Old Crow a very long time. Prior to living in Pelly Crossing, many of the people lived at Fort Selkirk then Minto Landing, located on the banks of the Yukon river. Dawson City
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The Selkirk First Nation Final Agreement Pelly Crossing provides for lands called Settlement Lands. Beaver Faro Creek Carmacks Ross River Burwash Landing
Destruction Bay Whitehorse Haines Junction Watson Lake The Settlement Land of the Selkirk Carcross Teslin First Nation is a total of 4739.68 square kilometers. We own and manage this land.
Who can use Settlement Land?
• Selkirk First Nation Citizens have use of Settlement Land; • Generally, members of the public can access Settlement Land provided that they do not cause a significant impact (such as cutting or clearing) and are not accessing the land for commercial use. This means: • you can walk your dog or ride your horse; • you can hike; • you can ride your ATV or drive your vehicle on certain trails or roads as long as they existed before the Final Agreements were signed. However, you must stay on the travelled part of the road or trail.
If you find any artifacts while on Settlement Land, make sure you do not touch or move them and report it to the Selkirk First Nation Heritage Department.
If you want to hunt, trap or fish on Selkirk First Nation Settlement Land, you must get written permission from our Lands Department of the Selkirk First Nation government. Our Laws this world and the spiritual one beyond. live in balance and harmony witheverything in Doòli the community. someone else. Itmight also bring hard times to to the person who broke breaking Making amistake or being careless and Everyone followed everyday life. should behave properly towards eachother in them respect. Personal There is encompassing. and spiritualworld. Doòli isall in harmony with the natural Doòli Doòli To understand survival for thousands of years. Nation Way” Traditional Law ispartof Dän Ki isanendless process of learning how to isourancient way of living Doòli Doòli –whichwas oursystem of for animals and plants toshow Dän Ki could causeanillness orinjury Doòli you must know about Doòli. Doòli asbest they could. Doòli Dän Ki isfor how people orcould affect – “The First All of Dän Ki, including Doòli and Traditional Law, are guided by four major principles: • Caring • Sharing • Respect • Teaching
Traditional Law
Traditional Law is a set of rules that people follow to keep a community healthy and safe. Traditional Law is also a part of Doòli and some people call them “Doòli Laws”. Traditional laws are a bit different because they are not just between a person and the creator but also require the cooperation and advice of other people. When a “law” was broken it was up to the whole community to correct this problem
All of Dän Ki, including Doòli and Traditional Law, are guided by four major principles: Caring, Sharing, Respect, and Teaching Clans Traditional law regarding clans include but are not limited to:
• Members of the same clan should not marry. • Clan members hold the rights to stories, songs, crests, regalia, objects or art and anything else that express its clan system. • Members of a clan can only tell their clan stories not those of the other clan. Events & Activities events visitourwebsite at www.selkirkfn.ca For more information onthe Selkirk First Nationand BigJonathanHeritage Centre Activities • Selkirk First Nation Graduation • CanadaDay • National Aboriginal Day (June 21) • Ball Tournaments • Carnivals • but are notlimitedto: Events andactivitiesthatare opentoallinclude the Selkirk First Nation! join usinthe fun and learn more about We encourage you tocome outand the Selkirk First NationAdministration office. such asthe General Assembly. Ifyou are not sure, you canaskat certain events, whichare just for ourSelkirk First NationCitizens participate inrecreational and other community events. There are throughout the year inPelly Crossing. Everyone iswelcomed to Numerous events and activitiesthatare open tothe public are held (Selkirk SpiritDancers). sewing and language classes, cabin building, dancing and singing fish camps, hunting camps, teachingour language atthe school, life and ourstories. We continue topractice ourtraditions with We have ourown songsand dances, whichreflect our way of
SELKIRK FIRST NATION BOX 40 PELLY CROSSING, YT Y0B 1P0 867 537 3331 WWW.SELKIRKFN.COM ALL PHOTOS CREDIT: CHRIS RODGERS