YG Photo Tombstone Range GAZETTEER OF YUKON May 2010 Geographical Names Program Heritage Resources Unit Cultural Services Branch Yukon Geographical Place Names Database The Heritage Resources Unit maintains and updates the Yukon Geographical Place Names Database of over 5,000 records. The Unit administers the program for naming and changing the names of Yukon geographical features such as lakes, rivers, creek and mountains, approved by the Minister of Tourism and Culture, based on recommendations of the Yukon Geographical Place Names Board. Mandate The mandate of the Heritage Resources Unit is to ensure that Yukon’s heritage resources are properly planned, researched, managed, protected, developed and interpreted in a manner consistent with the principles of responsible heritage resource management, the Historic Resources Act and Land Claims Heritage Agreements. Principles of Nomenclature The principles of nomenclature which guide the decisions of the Yukon Geographical Place Names Board (YGPNB) on geographical names are summarized as follows: 1. First priority shall be given to names with 5. When proposing names for previously long -standing local usage by the general unnamed features those for which no local public, particularly indigenous names in the names exist, preference shall be given to names local First Nation language. from native languages, names that describe the feature, name associated with historical events, 2. The Board has no jurisdiction over the names and names of people who have made an of municipalities, parks, territorial divisions or important contribution to the area where the other legal bodies that have been created by, or place name is proposed. result from legislation. 6. Geographical names shall be recognizable 3. Naming for rivers, lakes, creeks, and other words or acceptable combinations or words, physical features shall be used for the entire and shall be in good taste. Names that are feature. For example, the Yukon River has to discriminatory or derogatory for the point of have one name for its entire length although it view of race, sex, colour, creed, or political is visible from more that one location such as affiliation shall not be accepted. from Whitehorse, and again from Dawson. 7. The spelling and accenting of names shall agree 4. Proposals to name a place or geographical with the rules of the language in which they feature after a specific person shall show that were written. the person to be commemorated has contributed significantly to the area where the 8. The board has no jurisdiction over the feature is located. In most cases, personal assignment of names with in municipalities, names may be given to geographical features parks territorial divisions, or other legal bodies only after a person's death (a minimum of five that have been created by, or result from, years must elapse from the date of death legislation. Proposals for name changes with before a commemorative name proposal will in a national park are subject to federal review be considered). and approval. When geographical features are wholly or partly located within a national park, names and name change proposals are to be referred directly to the Geographical Names Board of Canada (GNBC). Yukon Gazetteer 1 Yukon's Place Names Review Process Naming Features on Settlement Lands Initially, place name applications are submitted to Under the Land Claims Final Agreement, the the Yukon Government's Heritage Resources Unit, YGPNB is directed to consider the following a component of Cultural Services Branch with-in procedures when reviewing place name applications the Department of Tourism & Culture. on Settlement Lands: Processing place name applications in a timely - When considering the naming or renaming of manner is a priority of the Yukon Geographical place names or features location within the Place Names Board (YGPNB). However, the speed traditional territory of a Yukon First Nation, or with which a place name application is processed is when acting with a federal agency where dependent on a number of factors that include: joint jurisdiction over the naming of the place or feature exists, the Yukon Geographical Place - Completeness of the applications when initially Names Board shall consult with that Yukon submitted to the Yukon Toponymist (L-1) - First Nation or federal agency. Heritage Resources Unit, Cultural Services Branch; - A Yukon First Nation may name or rename geographical features on settlement land and - Whether the place name site are on First Nation such names shall be deemed to have been traditional or settlement lands; on federal or approved by the Yukon Geographical Place territorial lands; Names Board. - Whether the site identified are located within - Traditional Aboriginal place names shall be parks; included to the extent practicable and in accordance with map production specifications - Whether the location of the place name site have of Canada on revised maps of the National been accurately determined (to the nearest Topographic System. second); - Whether the historical or cultural backgrounds have been given. Inquiries Concerning Yukon Geographical Place Names Inquiries: For information concerning geographical For information about the Yukon geographical place nomenclature in Yukon, or information about the names process, spelling or proposals concerning activities and mandate of the Yukon Geographical new names, or changes in the form, application of Place Names Board please contact: existing names to obtain a status report on an application submitted contact: Secretariat Yukon Toponymist (L-1) Yukon Geographical Place Names Board Government of Yukon P.O. Box 31164 P.O. Box 2703 Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 5P7 Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2C6 Tel: (867) 393- 3982 Tel: (867) 667-3099 Fax: (867) 667-7006 Fax: (867) 393-6456 e-mail: [email protected] Toll free: 1-800-661-0408 ext. 3099 www.yukonplacenames.ca e-mail: [email protected] www.yukonheritage.com Yukon Gazetteer 2 Definitions Official Name - means a geographic name, which has been approved by the Minister of Tourism & Culture upon recommendation of the Yukon Geographical Place Names Board. Only Official place names will be produced on National Topographical System (NTS) Maps, and road signs. Alternate Name - means a geographic name, which has been approved by the Minister of Tourism & Culture upon recommendation of the Yukon Geographical Place Names Board, and which is different from the official name and which is in common and/or local use. Officially recognized alternate names facilitate the preservation of the First Nation languages. Only official place names will be produced on National Topographic System (NTS) Maps, and road signs. Abbreviations CTFN Carcross/ Tagish First Nations CAFN Champagne & Aishihik First Nations KFN Kluane First Nation KDFN Kwanlin Dün First Nation LFN Liard First Nation (Kaska) LSCFN Little Salmon/ Carmacks First Nation NNDFN First Nation of Na-Cho Nyäk Dun RRDC Ross River Dena Council (Kaska) SFN Selkirk First Nation TKC Ta'an Kwäch'än Council TGC Tetlit Gwich'in Council (Northwest Territories) TTC Teslin Tlingit Council THFN Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in First Nation (Hän) VGFN Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation WRFN White River First Nation (Upper Tanana) N.T. Northern Tutchone S.T. Southern Tutchone ISR Inuvialuit Settlement Region Map Reference The purpose of this column is to assist the user when a map is required. The map is at the 1: 50,000 scale, being the larges scale of the National Topographical System (NTS) available for the majority of the Yukon. It should be noted that some of the names in the Yukon Gazetteer may no be found on referenced 1: 50,000 map. This may occur because of congested of named features, the small size of the named feature at that scale, or because the name was approved after the publication of the current edition of the map. General Information The information contained in this volume of the Yukon Gazetteer has been produced from the Yukon Geographical Place Names Database (YGPNDB). In an effort to remain receptive to our clients' needs, your comments concerning this volume are welcome. If you have any suggestions or criticisms on content, style or presentation, please contact us at the following address: Yukon Toponymist (L-1), P.O. Box 2703, Whitehorse, Yukon, Y1A- 2C6, or Toll Free 1-800-661-0408 ext. 3099 or [email protected] Yukon Gazetteer 3 Glossary of Generic Terms Arm - Long narrow extension of a water body. Creek - Watercourse, usually smaller then a river. Bar - Ridge or succession of ridges which may Crossing - A place suitable for traversing a body of water. obstruct water navigation. Basin - Bowl-shaped head of valley in foothills or Delta - Fan-shaped alluvial land at the mouth of a mountains. river, usually with distributaries, channels, and small lakes. Bay - Water area in an indentation of the shoreline Dome - Mass of rock or ice with rounded top of lakes or large rivers. elevated above the surrounding terrain. Beach - Gently sloping shore of unconsolidated Elbow - Sharp turn in a watercourse. material sloping the margins of a lake or a river. Bend - Distinct curve in a water body. Falls - Perpendicular or Steep descent of water. Bight - Water area in a broad indentation of the Flats - (2) Almost level land, usually found along a shoreline valley. - (3) A large area of flat, wet ground. Bluff - (1) Headland, cliff, or river bank with a steep Fleuve - Large watercourse into the sea. face. - (2) A steep-sided hill or promontory. Bottom - Level land of valley floor. Fork - Branch of a stream. Branch - Tributary or tributary to a river or creek. Gap - Narrow opening through a ridge or mountain chain. Brook - Small watercourse, often tributary to a river Glacier - Mass of permanent snow and ice flowing from or creek. an area of snow accumulation on high ground. Butte - Conspicuous isolated hill with steep sides Gulch - (1) A small stream. and a flat top. - (4) Deep, steeply graded, V-shaped declivity, sometimes containing a stream.