Yukon First Nations Heritage Values and Resource Management: Perspectives from Four Yukon First Nations
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Yukon First Nations Heritage Values and Resource Management: Perspectives from Four Yukon First Nations IPINCH Case Study Report by Carcross/Tagish First Nation, Champagne and Aishihik First Nations, Ta’an Kwach’an Council, and Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in in collaboration with Sheila Greer (Consultant to Champagne and Aishihik First Nations) and Catherine Bell (University of Alberta, Faculty of Law) January 2016 IPinCH ‐ Yukon First Nations Heritage Values and Resource Management Report – March 2016 Attribution and Copyright Notice CCM Attribution‐NonCommercial‐NoDerivs CC‐BY ‐NC‐ND www.sfu.ca/IPinCH This research was made possible, in part, through the support of the Intellectual Property Issues in Cultural Heritage (IPinCH) project, a Major Collaborative Research Initiative funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. IPinCH explores the rights, values, and responsibilities associated with material culture, cultural knowledge and the practice of heritage research. Other project funders included: Champagne and Aishihik First Nations, Carcross‐Tagish First Nation, Ta’an Kwach’an Council, Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in, and Sheila C. Greer Consulting. Report To Be Cited As: Carcross‐Tagish First Nation, Champagne & Aishihik First Nations, Ta’an Kwach’an Council, Tr’ondek Hwech’in First Nation, Sheila Greer, and Catherine Bell (2015), Yukon First Nations Heritage Values and Resource Management: Perspectives from Four Yukon First Nations. ii IPinCH ‐ Yukon First Nations Heritage Values and Resource Management Report – March 2016 SOME OF OUR WORDS Anything and everything you do, the way you live is your heritage. I walk it, that’s who I am. Angie Joseph‐Rear, TH Session, August 4, 2012. — a citizen and former chief of the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in. Our people want to learn to dance and sing, it sparks the life within them. If we work together it can be achieved, we can keep our language and culture alive. A big part is respect. If we are really going to learn our culture and heritage we have to start with respect; that’s a key, fundamental issue. Andy Carville, March 1, 2005, Tending the Fire Conference (Summary Document, p. 20). — a Carcross/Tagish First Nation citizen, and former Grand Chief of the Council for Yukon First Nations. This chapter is one of the most important chapters because it can be the essence and tool, a way to teach our children where they come from and who they are as First Nations people. Xíxch’ Tlà (Diane Strand), March 1, 2005, Tending the Fire Conference (Summary Document, p. 11). — a citizen and former chief of the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations. Heritage is our lives, it is what we are. We are First Nations people who have been watered down and watered down until some of us don’t look First Nations but we still are. Frances Woolsey, TKC Session July 31, 2012. —an Elder of the Taan Kwäch’än Council. Our Words in Song There was always something under the surface – yeah Trying to reach out, take root and find me I’ve got a history and a story that’s yet untold I can hear it now, hear it now the words my old people say. – lyrics from “The Breaking Point” (song), from CD The Breaking Point. Singer Songwriter Diyet (a citizen of Kluane First Nation, Burwash Landing, Yukon). It’s up to me, no it’s up to us. Together it gets better on every letter. I speak, the drum I trust. Lyrics, “86 Heaven.” Rap Artist Warren Strand (Yäwatà) (a citizen of Champagne and Aishihik First Nations, Haines Junction, Yukon) iii IPinCH ‐ Yukon First Nations Heritage Values and Resource Management Report – March 2016 TABLE OF CONTENTS Some of Our Words iii Our Words in Song Iii Table of Contents iv Acknowledgements vi 1. Introduction 1 2. Background and Context to the Present Study 3 2.1 Who We Are 3 Figure 1, Map Showing Traditional Territory of the Four Yukon First Nations 4 Study Participants 2.2 Chapter 13 Heritage of the Yukon Land Claim Agreements 6 The Objectives of Chapter 13 7 2.3 Other, Intersecting Legislation Affecting Heritage 9 2.4 Previous Considerations of YFN Heritage and Heritage Values 9 Select Quotes from the 2005 “Tending the Fire” Conference 11 CTFN’s Book of Statutes – Traditional Beliefs and Practices 12 2.5 Yukon First Nations Heritage Programs 13 Carcross/Tagish First Nation 13 Champagne & Aishihik First Nations 16 Ta’an Kwach’an Council 16 Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in 17 2.6 The Multi‐Government Heritage Resource Manual Effort 18 2.7 More Recent Yukon First Nations Collective Work on Heritage 18 Select Quotes from the Yukon First Nations Heritage Caucus Sessions 19 3. Methodology 20 3.1 Objectives, Design and Implementation 20 3.2 Workshop Sessions, Focus Groups, Interviews and Participants 22 3.3 Report Preparation 27 3.4 Inherent Limits and Challenges to Our Methodology 29 4. What We Asked and A Sampling of What Was Heard 33 What Does “Heritage of Yukon First Nations” Mean to You? 33 On Activities and Heritage Value/Values 35 On Place & Heritage Value/Values 37 On Taking Care of Culturally Important Places 39 On Material Culture and Heritage Value/Values 42 On Taking Care of Culturally Important Things 43 5. Further Insights 44 On Heritage Today, Education 44 On Role of FN Governments in Heritage Management 46 More on Culturally Important Places 48 More on Material Culture 50 6. Analysis 52 6.1 General Comments & Vocabulary Insights 53 6.2 Stewardship and Responsibility 55 iv IPinCH ‐ Yukon First Nations Heritage Values and Resource Management Report – March 2016 6.3 Heritage as Community 56 6.4 Spirituality in Heritage 57 6.5 Heritage as Holistic and Intimately Connected to the Land 58 6.6 Tangible and Intangible 59 6.7 Heritage Management as Knowledge Sharing 60 6.8 Culturally Significant Places 62 6.9 Relationships and Relatedness 65 6.10 Art, Material Culture & Culturally Important Things 68 6.11 Yukon First Nation Governments Heritage Policy and Practice 70 7. Conclusions – Collaborative Stewardship 72 8. References Cited 76 Appendix A ‐ Chapter 13 of the Umbrella Yukon Final Agreement 80 Appendix B ‐ Study Participant Consent Form 88 Appendix C ‐ Program “From Values to Policy and Legislation Breaking Trail in 89 a Heritage Self‐Governing Context”, March 22, 2013 Workshop Appendix D ‐ Original Set of Questions Presented to Participants 90 Appendix E – TH Collections Policy 93 Appendix F – TH Heritage Resources Best Practices 110 v IPinCH ‐ Yukon First Nations Heritage Values and Resource Management Report – March 2016 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The research leading to this report has been a shared experience exploring and learning about, as well as articulating, Yukon First Nations’ (YFN) values, laws, and heritage stewardship, their interface with Canadian laws and heritage norms, and their implications for a heritage management framework based on YFN values and culture. Its design and implementation was developed by the Champagne and Aishihik (CAFN), Carcross/Tagish (CTFN), Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in (TH), and the Ta'an Kwach'an Council (TKC), in collaboration with Sheila Greer (Heritage Consultant for CAFN), Catherine Bell (Professor of Law, University of Alberta), and the Intellectual Property in Cultural Heritage (IPinCH) project. Extending over a period of four years, this research would not have been possible without the guidance and knowledge of the YFN Elders acknowledged below; the support and encouragement of Diane Strand (Director, Dept. of Language, Culture & Heritage and former Chief CAFN), Mark Wedge (Elder and former Khà Shâde Héni [Chief] CTFN), and Jackie Olson (Executive Director and former Director, Department of Heritage, TH); and the vision and dedication of YFN heritage staff Paula Banks (Parks Planning & Heritage Liaison, Lands and Resources Dept. CAFN), Heather Jones (Heritage Manager CAFN), Jody Beaumont (Traditional Knowledge Specialist TH), Betsy Jackson (Elder, former Heritage Manager TKC), Sheila Joe Quock (Heritage Officer CAFN), and Mark Nelson (former Heritage Manager TKC). Of particular significance are the contributions of the many individuals who shared history, knowledge, and ways with one of us (SG) over the past 35 years, as well as more directly the Elders, youth, and other YFN community members who agreed to speak directly with us specifically for this project. Your knowledge and experience enables us not only to facilitate respect for, and greater understanding of, concerns relating to protection and control of YFN heritage, but also demonstrates the importance of recognizing and respecting unique features of every Yukon First Nation. In particular, we acknowledge the contributions of the following people who participated in interviews and focus group discussions: Carcross/Tagish First Nation: We respectfully acknowledge the following Elders and community members who shared their time, knowledge and contributions: Elder Annie Austen, Elder Bill Barrett, Elder Patrick James, Beverly Sembsmoen, Ralph Sembsmoen, Keith Wolfe Smarch, Elder Mark Wedge, Elder Ted Hall, and Elder Art Johns. Champagne and Aishihik First Nations: We respectfully acknowledge the following youth, heritage staff, and citizens who shared their time, knowledge and contributions: Elder Lorraine Allen, Paula Banks, Elder Frances Oles, Candice Boyle, Michelle Dawson‐Beattie, Nadia Joe, Sheila Joe Quock, Chase Smith‐ Tutin, Harry Smith, and Amanda Workman. Ta'an Kwach'an Council: We respectfully acknowledge the following Elders who shared their time, knowledge, ideas, and concerns: Norman Adamson, Gail Anderson, Sam Broeren, Louise Clethroe, Marion Irvine, Betsy Jackson, James Miller, and Frances Woolsey. Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in: We respectfully acknowledge the following Elders, heritage staff and citizens who shared their time, knowledge and contributions: Elder Angie Joseph‐Rear, Jackie Olson, Georgette McLeod, Jody Beaumont, and Allie Winton. vi IPinCH ‐ Yukon First Nations Heritage Values and Resource Management Report – March 2016 We also acknowledge Vera Asp, a citizen of the Tahltan Central Council and professional archaeologist, who assisted in clarifying issues raised during the Ta’an Kwach’an Council Elders session.