Selkirk First Nation
Encyclopedia
The Selkirk First Nation is a First Nation in the central Yukon Territory in Canada
. Its original population centre was the trading post of Selkirk, Yukon along the Yukon River
, but most of its citizens now live in Pelly Crossing, Yukon
where the Klondike Highway
crosses the Pelly River
. The language originally spoken by the Selkirk people was Northern Tutchone
. There is a great effort to preserve the language and culture, as can be seen by the popularity of the Selkirk "Keeper of the Songs", Jerry Alfred
.
The Selkirk First Nation signed a Yukon Land Claims
agreement in 1997.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Its original population centre was the trading post of Selkirk, Yukon along the Yukon River
Yukon River
The Yukon River is a major watercourse of northwestern North America. The source of the river is located in British Columbia, Canada. The next portion lies in, and gives its name to Yukon Territory. The lower half of the river lies in the U.S. state of Alaska. The river is long and empties into...
, but most of its citizens now live in Pelly Crossing, Yukon
Pelly Crossing, Yukon
Pelly Crossing is community in the Yukon, Canada. It lies where the Klondike Highway crosses the Pelly River. Population in 2008 was 291.It is the home of the Selkirk First Nation, and home to the Northern Tutchone culture. Cultural displays and artifacts are housed in a replica of Big Jonathan House...
where the Klondike Highway
Klondike Highway
The Klondike Highway links the Alaskan coastal town of Skagway to Yukon's Dawson City and its route somewhat parallels that used by prospectors in the 1898 Klondike Gold Rush....
crosses the Pelly River
Pelly River
The Pelly River is a river in Canada, and is a headstream of the Yukon River. The river originates west of the Mackenzie Mountains and flows 530 km long through the south central Yukon. The Pelly has two main tributaries, the Ross and Macmillan rivers.The river was named by Robert Campbell in...
. The language originally spoken by the Selkirk people was Northern Tutchone
Northern Tutchone
The Northern Tutchone are a First Nations people living mainly in the central Yukon in Canada. The Northern Tutchone language, originally spoken by the Northern Tutchone people, is a variety of the Tutchone language, part of the Athabaskan language family...
. There is a great effort to preserve the language and culture, as can be seen by the popularity of the Selkirk "Keeper of the Songs", Jerry Alfred
Jerry Alfred
Jerry Alfred is a Northern Tutchone musician living in Pelly Crossing, Yukon. He was named "Keeper of the Songs" at birth, an honorary title which he has made into a career, updating traditional Tutchone music by adding twentieth century Western influences.Alfred was born in the community of...
.
The Selkirk First Nation signed a Yukon Land Claims
Yukon Land Claims
The Yukon Land Claims refer to the process of negotiating and settling aboriginal land claims agreements in Yukon, Canada.-History:Unlike other parts of Canada, Yukon First Nations did not conclude any treaties until the 1990s, despite Chief Jim Boss of the Ta'an Kwach'an requesting compensation...
agreement in 1997.