Heritage

What FNNND is trying to preserve is a way of life, rather than a singular item such as language or site.  All aspects of the old way of life are interdependent, and none can survive alone. We can’t use language only in the classroom and preserving a single building in a village seems pointless. The Language and the Traditional Knowledge, the sites and buildings and artefacts all mean something when seen as an entire way of life and the Heritage department should preserve with their interdependent nature in mind.

Citizens are often hired to assist with various projects, whether to provide background information about a specific place, provide translation services or be a boat driver. The Heritage & Culture Department strives to involve as many citizens as possible in all aspects of its work.

For more information about any of our projects and activities, please contact us at 867 996-2265.

Oral Histories and Traditional Knowledge

NND staff have been working for many years to document oral histories and traditional for various purposes including land claims, place name documentation, Peel Watershed Land Use Planning process, Ddhaw Ghro Habitat Protection area, Devil’s Elbow Habitat Protection Area and other projects as required. This information exists in various forms in our collection, and our staff is working closely with Lands Department staff to ensure that this information is documented and used according to our Traditional Knowledge Guidelines (Spring 2008). We continue to use this information for our purposes as well to contribute to other processes such as applications through YESAB, collaborative research and other partnerships.

Heritage Sites & Special Places

There are numerous buildings, sites and things that are important to the Na-Cho Nyak Dun. As much as we would like to, we cannot save everything from the past, so there is invariably a choice to be made often governed by available funding.

And there are further choices as to how FNNND preserves a place.  Do we save it “as is” or should we spend the money to restore it fully?  And what do we do after FNNND has restored it? Because there is always a cost involved with maintenance. Everything we use from buildings to clothes is a part of our “heritage”, but there will be many community discussions yet to come on the choices FNNND has to make.

Over the winter, Heritage Department staff will be working closely with Lands Department staff, Elders and Citizens to develop plans for several of the places in our traditional territory. FNNND can develop many of the sites under consideration, but a comprehensive plan must be undertaken first. It cannot be all done at once. That plan will inevitably begin with training since restoration is a specialized and lengthy process.  It is possible that some smaller projects can be undertaken as “training” platforms before the more significant projects are undertaken.

Some projects are already underway. For instance, the Old Village has been cleared and a central facility built so that FNNND citizens and visitors can use the site.  The Loon project is underway and it is anticipated that in a few years the vessel will once again be on the Mayo waterfront. FNNND has assessed some trails for reconstruction. We have also been collecting oral history information on Lansing Post to begin a plan for the site.

Five Year Strategic Plan and Implementation Plan

In 2004, the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyak Dun developed the Five Year Strategic Plan and Implementation Plan to guide the management of heritage and cultural resources in our traditional territory. While the preservation of these resources is essential to the First Nation itself, several land claims obligations must be reviewed and met.

The Heritage Department developed the plan with direct involvement and consultation with the elders, chief, deputy chief, youth, and all interested community stakeholders. This is truly a community plan that will ensure that connections are not lost and it demonstrates a solid foundation for the future of FNNND’s culture and heritage.

This document outlines current heritage resources as well as the opportunities and challenges that need to be implemented. Also included are a heritage vision statement, goals, objectives and an implementation strategy.

Na-Cho Nyak Dun Chief and Council, The Heritage Steering Committee, The Elders Council, youth, and Mayo community members all participated in the consultation that took place from July to November 2004. With the information gathered, it clearly shows the direction the whole community feels is vital to keeping and sustaining for generations to come.

The objectives were:

– To consult with NND stakeholders and identify their heritage and cultural needs.
– To review and assess other Yukon First Nation-owned cultural centre’s.
– To identify specific heritage culture and language resources that need to be protected and sustained.
– To recommend a plan of action.
– To identify possible location/funding.

After numerous meetings and consultations with FNNND Citizens, it is evident that there is a great deal of support for Heritage activities within FNNND. Elders are very conscious that they are getting older, and they want to find a way to pass on what they have learned in their lifetimes. And their lifetimes have been truly incredible as reflected in the changes they have seen.  Some were born in the bush, lived a genuinely traditional lifestyle and then experienced everything from their first log cabin to computers. They have lived and used everything from moose hide boats to skidoos; they have seen the change from the use of their traditional language to radio, TV and CDs. The elders do not see everything as a positive change, and they want to see a preservation of at least some of their old ways.

That preservation should undoubtedly apply to language and Traditional Knowledge and many buildings and sites as well. NND needs guidelines and a Cultural Centre in which to house their Heritage.

It all needs to be done but invariably funding and time provide limits to what we would like to do. At the same time, the elders are getting older and we are on the verge of losing their precious memories.

https://www.nndfn.com/language/