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Population From 1997 First Nations register by DIAND  : 483
Address  : P. O. Box 130
Carcross, YT
Y0B 1B0
Distance from capital city of Whitehorse, Yukon  : 74 Kilometers, 46 Miles
Traditional Language  : Tagish, Tlingit
Development corporation  : Carcross/Tagish Development Corporation
Community Name  :

Carcross

Community Name History

Named for the early hunting of Caribou and an abbreviation of Caribou Crossing. Located at the end of Bennett Lake, where the White Pass and Yukon Railway established a station to pick up miners and equipment before travelling to Whitehorse or Skagway.

 

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Traditional Way of Life

These people occupied the Southern Lakes Region of the Yukon.

"Their yearly round followed the movements of moose, woodland caribou, sheep and fish. In the 1800`s they were drawn into the fur trade, acting as middlemen between the coastal Tlingit and the inland Kaska and Tutchone."(The Yukon at a Glance, P. 5)

The land provided food, clothing and shelter. One of the traditional areas was the area surrounding Annie Lake (D`esd`en`e Me`ne or D`esd`el`e M`en`e in Tagish language). The people of this area traded with the coastal Tlingit, inland Kaska and Tutchone. They traded shells, eulachon oil, dried clams, wooden boxes and seaweed for furs, tanned hides, clothing, special lichens or mosses used for dye. The Tagish people of the area inter-married with the coastal Tlingit bringing about the present day blending of the two cultures.

Traditional Transportation

Foot, small dugout canoes, rafts and skin boats

 

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Tourism Development

"The Plan identifies a wide range of tourism development initiatives, including priority projects that meet the needs of key markets, and could be developed in the near future. Projects Include:

* Encouraging First Nations to develop products, such as the cultural center, native interpretation of Chilkoot Trail and other regional features.
* In Carcross, protect, develop, and interpret the community as an historic attraction, including improving the community walking tour.
* Investigate potential for/develop new services and facilities, such as fixed roof accommodation in Carcross and small-scale tour products in Tagish.

...The Snafu/Tarfu Lakes system is a popular recreation area for Yukon residents (two small campgrounds)...The Carcross/Tagish First Nation has also indicated an interest in participating in some sort of park development as a potential product of Land Claims. Until these concerns are resolved and land tenure can be secured, Yukon Government is not pursuing development in this area.

...Historic Resources:
The Carcross/Southern Lakes region has a rich native and post contact history that can be interpreted, shown to visitors through artifacts and structures still standing, and presented through traditional art, stories and dance.

Potential themes include: Native culture and history
...For centuries before the first white people arrived, Tagish and Tlingit people lived and traded in the Carcross/Southern Lakes region. During and after the Gold Rush, native people played pivotal roles in Yukon`s exploration and development, and were significantly impacted and changed as a result. Throughout these changes, their culture and traditions have survived through the people and their art, stories, songs and dance.

It is generally felt that local native history and culture has not yet been adequately represented through interpretation or presentation of historic or cultural resources. The Carcross/Tagish First Nation is committed to participating in, and directing the interpretation and development of their historic and cultural resources.
Several recent and ongoing projects illustrate the potential for improving native tourism in the region:
* Incorporating native history into the interpretation of Chilkoot Trail National Historic Park - a cooperative CPS/Carcross/Tagish First Nation (CTFN) project.
* Highlighting the role of native people in the construction of the Alaska Highway.
* Carcross Tlingit Dancers
* Planning for a Carcross/Tagish Cultural Centre in Carcross
* Presenting native history in the Carcross Visitor Reception Centre(VCR)

...The Carcross/Tagish First Nation proposes to develop a cultural centre in Carcross. The centre would present and interpret the history, culture and art of the region`s native people in a recreated Indian Village setting. Traditional dance, native food, arts, crafts and interpretation would be part of the facility.

Tourism attraction issues to be addressed are:
* ...Lack of First Nations control over how their history and culture is presented to visitors.
* Lack of First Nations representation in regional interpretation.

Tourism attraction opportunities to be addressed are:

* ...Respect First Nations` responsibility to direct how native history artifacts are developed and presented. Use the provisions set out in the Umbrella Final Agreement to facilitate this.
* Use oral histories to identify potential First Nations, products and interpretation....

...The Plan`s Goal, Objectives and Guiding Principles set the direction for tourism development in the Carcross/Southern Lakes Region.

*...First Nations will be involved in regional tourism development, and their responsibility for development and presentation of the culture should be recognized...

*...Use oral histories to identify First Nations interpretation and products.

... Support and encourage development of Carcross/Tagish cultural center, as a major attraction."(Carcross/Southern Lakes Region Tourism Development Plan 1994, Pp. 1-58)

 

 

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