WelcomeWelcome••toto••thethe Part of the Land. Part of the Water. hahaha kuskuskus teyeateyeateyea celebrationcelebrationcelebration july 24 26, 2015 teslin, yukon Welcome Messages Mâ sá iyatî ax Carcross/Tagish First Nation would like to xooní Łingit! welcome and thank everyone (Gunalcheesh!) that have come out to share in a celebration It is with great pleasure of our Tlingit culture! Carcross Tagish First we welcome our Nation is proud and honoured to be here fellow Tlingit families, with all of you and we hope you stay and friends and visitors enjoy the festivities over the next three days. to our 4th Bi-annual There are sure to be some great performances, fun activities Hà Kus Teyea Celebration! Gunałchîsh and of course, great food! to our brothers and sisters of Taku River (TRTFN) and Carcross Tagish (CTFN), Kha Shade Heni, for their generous support which Danny Cresswell will assist in making this an Inland Carcross/Tagish First Nation Tlingit Celebration to remember and cherish always. We would like ALL visitors to thoroughly It warms my heart to join so many of you at enjoy their short but memorable stay another Hà Kus Teyea Celebration. This year with us. We realize some people will be it is my privilege and honour to welcome you camping, therefore we ask you to not to this Celebration of Inland Tlingit Culture make fires, be very careful with cooking as the new Spokesperson of the Taku River equipment, cigarette butts, lighters Tlingit Nation. On behalf of my nation, I also and matches. Please be cognizant of want to express sincere appreciation and animals, travel in groups of two or more, gratitude to the Teslin Tlingit Nation for once again hosting play safe and take care of each other. this inspirational and practical celebration. On behalf of Elders, Clan leaders, Hà Kus Teyea is inspirational because it allows us to share Youth and Citizens, we invite everyone our achievements in renewing our culture and language— to enjoy a weekend of amazing Cultural and to challenge ourselves and each other to higher standards Dance performances, Artists Market, and greater achievements. Traditional Workshops, Canoe activities Hà Kus Teyea is practical because it gives us rich opportunities and Traditional Feasts. to build personal connections and relationships between our The Teslin Tlingit Council would like to Carcross-Tagish, Teslin and Taku River Tlingit communities. offer our heartfelt thanks to our Hà Kus It’s time for us to add this inspiration and these opportunities Teyea Committee, Heritage Centre staff, to a toolkit that will help us forge strong identities and steadfast volunteers and Ta’an Kwach’an Council solidarity as inheritors of a common heritage and as architects volunteers for all of the extra time and and builders of a prosperous and sustainable future for our effort they have put forth to make this children, our nations and ourselves. Celebration a huge success! Gunalcheesh. Thank you with deep respect for coming together Thank you for joining us as we celebrate once again, with pride in our traditions and faith that we can and the beauty of Tlingit Culture. will honor those traditions by preserving and enhancing them. Gunałchîsh, Spokesperson Louise Gordon, Ka Diek Na Aat Naa sháde háni Khixhikayeł, Taku River Tlingit First Nation Chief Carl Sidney Atlin, B.C. Teslin Tlingit Council Welcome to the Teslin Tlingit Heritage Celebration — Hà Kus Teyea 2015! Gunałchéesh for joining us in the celebration of our Tlingit heritage! We are all very excited to welcome you to our lands and territory with a traditional welcoming ceremony July 24 on the shore of the Teslin Lake at the Teslin Tlingit Heritage Centre. Throughout our celebration we will introduce you to: our history through arts, dance and music, our language through our elders and our students and our culture through storytelling, personal experience and teachings. This celebration is built on the vision of our Elders and Leaders, countless hours of planning and coordination and by our sponsors, donors, volunteers and dreamers. Celebration Information Hà Kus Teyea in the Tlingit language means Information Booth “Our Culture” or literally, the “Tlingit Way”. The information booth is located at the main entrance “Part of the Land, Part of the Water” is a to the Teslin Tlingit Heritage Centre. statement made by a respected Teslin Elder, Virginia Smarch, during the early days of land • Register for workshops • Pick up a Welcome Program claims negotiations to describe our people. • Sign up to volunteer • Get questions answered As long as the Tlingit have lived on the shores Photography at the Celebration of the big inland lakes, July has been a season of coming together and celebrating. A warm Please ask the permission of the artist(s) before taking season where living for a short time was a little their photograph, and respect their wishes if they say no. easier; a time to reconnect with family and friends, Professional photographers planning to publish their meet the new born, engage in courtships, images must obtain permission from the artists. tell stories and put the hardships of winter behind. A time to strengthen the ties of Tlingit Culture— Food Vendors Hà Kus Teyea. The Celebration will have various food vendors on-site Our Mission is to welcome and bring together throughout the weekend. Food will be available from families, Elders, dance groups, artists, old friends 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM each day. Stay for the feast starting and new to share Tlingit art and performances, at 6:00 PM every night, and enjoy our evening along with the bounty and beauty of the land performances—it’s free! and the water in Teslin, Yukon. Want to Volunteer? This celebration is an alcohol and drug free event. There is a no tolerance policy and it will It’s never too late to sign up! If you’re interested, be enforced by security. sign up at the information booth, you will receive a free Celebration t-shirt and join in the fun! ha kus teyea celebration 2015 1 program highlights PUBLIC WORKSHOPS Sponsored by: daily, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM Various locations on-site Small Paddle Smoking Raven’s Tail Bentwood Box Cedar Bark Carving Salmon Weaving Making Weaving with with with with with Northern Cultural Doug Smarch Jr. Clarissa Rizal Joanne Williams Debra Michele Expressions Society Sign up for a public workshop, and its free. Onsite registration at the Celebration Information booth. Space is limited—first come first serve. You must register by Friday. Main Stage Cultural Performances Demonstrations Behind the Heritage Centre Demonstrations at various sites saturday & Sunday, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM, daily : : 12 00 PM – 5 00 PM Participating artists & Elders will be working Sunday Gospel, 11:00 AM onsite throughout the week of the Celebration See Schedule for more details. developing and honing their skills. Moose tanning, Fish smoking, soap berry Sponsored by: making contest, Chilkat weaving, Canoe rides, beading, cedar bark weaving, Tlingit Language Crafts & Activities In partnership with: lessons, stick Friday – Sunday, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM gambling, carving, traditional A crafty and creative space for children medicines to explore arts, crafts, and storytelling. and more. 2 july 24 26 2015 teslin yukon Traditional Feasts & Special Tlingit Performances Language Salmon Welcome in the Great Hall Lessons & Ceremony TTC Heritage Centre Storytelling & Filleting Contest The Great friday, friday, saturday, Inland Tlingit 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM & S u n day, friday, Hosted by Carcross Tagish 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM Canoe Races 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM First Nation Lakefront Hosted by the Join us for Tlingit saturday, Taku River Tlingit saturday, Language lessons 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM and storytelling, A Beaver plane will fly Hosted by Taku River Tlingit Spend time with in to the site to deliver The canoe Races are First Nations language speakers hundreds of pounds popular at previous of different levels and of fresh salmon from Celebrations and will Sunday, : : backgrounds. Taku River. People are be staged again in 5 00 PM – 8 00 PM invited to the Salmon conjunction with canoe Hosted by Teslin Tlingit Council Welcome Ceremony, demonstrations and talks. Join us each evening for a help cut the fish and Various categories of traditional feast and special enjoy the day preparing canoe races will include performances. the salmon and Salmon a Chief’s race, Women, Filleting Contest. Men and Mixed. Sponsored by: Artist Market daily, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM Sponsored by: Traditional Song & Dance Gathering Saturday, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM This year the Celebration is hosting a gathering of traditional Inland/Northwest Coast Dancers and Singers to share and exchange both inland and coastal dance styles, songs, drumming and stories. The gathering is a collaboration of First Nations dance groups from the Yukon, British Columbia, and Alaska sharing, supporting, and teaching one another. Inland Tlingit Member Marilyn Jensen of the Carcross/Tagish First Nation and William Wasden Jr. of Namgis Nation of Alert Bay and David Boxley from the Tsimshian Nation of Metlakatla, Alaska, strongly believe in encouraging young First Nations to continue participating in their traditional dance and songs they are facilitating this ideal by organizing this gathering for all dancers to join in and share their culture, songs and stories with one another. ha kus teyea celebration 2015 3 program highlights & Special Performances by Featured Dance Group: The Git Hoan Dancers We are excited about this year’s line up including our guest dance group The Git Hoan (People of the Salmon) they were formed in 1996 led by Tsimshian Artist David Boxley.