Connections to the Land

Our people honour our ancestral ties to our homelands. Even though we may live in town and work in an office, we consider the land to be our heritage and our focal point. Our youth learn a combination of traditional stewardship and modern harvesting and safety practices at various hunting, fishing and trapping camps. We ensure our Elders have opportunities to spend time on the land as well as sharing their knowledge and stories with our citizens and visitors from afar.

Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in is working to keep the land healthy so that it can continue to sustain future generations. While we welcome new economic opportunities and partnerships, our first concern is that they happen in a responsible manner with the minimum of impact.

We ask that visitors step lightly on this ground and its fragile resources. A small, easily-plucked plant may have taken many years to grow. Even rotten logs and dead trees can be habitat for small animals and birds. We value certain types of rotted wood used to tan hides. Burial sites are sacred to us and should be respected and left undisturbed. Territorial regulations forbid the collection of artifacts and other historic resources. Try to look at the land with the eyes of people who rely on it for sustenance.

At Nänkäk Ch’ëhòląy or "Land of Plenty" during spring camp for Grade 10 students.

Nagoon or Dwarf Raspberry, a delicious fruit, grows on low plants and can be easily crushed if we don't watch where we place our feet.