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The community of Teslin includes the Village of Teslin in Yukon, Canada. Teslin is situated at historical Mile 804 on the Alaska Highway along Teslin Lake. The Hudson's Bay Company established a small trading post at Teslin in 1903 (i.e. Teslin Post).
Teslin is home to the Teslin Inland Tlingit First Nation. The name
Teslin came from a Tlingit word "Teslintoo." Teslin has one of the largest
Native populations in Yukon. Much of the community's livelihood revolves
around traditional hunting, trapping and fishing. |
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Culture: Teslin is made up of two moieties; Wolf and Crow. Under the moiety of Wolf there are two clans; Eagle (Dakhl'awedi') and Wolf (Yanyedi). The Crow moiety has three clans; Raven's Children (Kukhhittan or Crow), Frog (Ishkitan) and Split tail Beaver (Deshitan). Under their matrilineal kinship system, children are considered born into the mother's clan, and descent is traced through her line. |
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Government: In 1995 the Teslin Inland Tlingit negotiated and signed a land claims agreement with the federal government under which they re-established their own government and became self-sustaining. The Teslin Inland Tlingit now enact their own legal and political framework for government-to-government relations with Canada and the Yukon.
The Teslin Tlingit Council have the right to make their own laws and regulations. There are many different departments within Teslin Tlingit Council (TTC), for example: Finance, Lands and Resources, Health and Social.
The people have developed the Teslin Tlingit Council Clan System Government which combines traditional Tlingit Clan culture with contemporary organizational and management principles. The five clans (Eagle, Crow, Frog, Wolf, and Beaver) each appoint five members to the 25-member General Council, and have recognized Elders (persons 58 years and older) on the Elders Council. |
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Below: The Northern Wildlife
Museum in Yukon. Numerous species of Yukon Wildlife were on display
in their natural habitat. It was an incredibly informative and educational
display. |
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