Whitehorse Daily Star

Southern Tutchone will adorn city signs

Those coming into the downtown area – either via Robert Service Way or Two Mile Hill – will soon be welcomed in Southern Tutchone, thanks to funding from the Yukon Arts Centre.

By Whitehorse Star on March 19, 2018

Those coming into the downtown area – either via Robert Service Way or Two Mile Hill – will soon be welcomed in Southern Tutchone, thanks to funding from the Yukon Arts Centre.

At last Monday evening’s council meeting, council was unanimous in approving a budget amendment.

It will see the city accept a donation of $5,000 from the centre to add Southern Tutchone to the welcome signs at the two major roads into the city’s core.

As it was explained in a previous staff report to council: “As part of the 75th anniversary of the Alaska Highway Legacy Program, the Yukon Arts Centre wishes to donate $5,000 to the City of Whitehorse for the inclusion of Southern Tutchone as part of the welcome to Whitehorse signage at the Robert Service Way and Two Mile Hill plazas.

“This will serve to denote the traditional territories of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and Ta’an Kwäch’än Council.”

The $5,000 will cover the full cost of the signage.

The city would be required to make all the associated purchases and show the expenses to the arts centre.

Comments (8)

Up 2 Down 2

Dave on Mar 23, 2018 at 11:02 am

They will always be South Access and 2 Mile Hill

Up 2 Down 7

jean on Mar 20, 2018 at 4:23 pm

@ Yukonner....actually " Je parle français très bien"

Up 1 Down 7

YXY on Mar 20, 2018 at 2:39 pm

Why not have the welcome signage include Filipino. I just think that there are more Filipino speaking people in Whitehorse than any FN language. It is unfortunate but that's how it is.

Up 5 Down 5

Yukoner on Mar 20, 2018 at 12:47 pm

@Pearl so you want an English Phonetic spelling of someone else's language instead of that languages actual words? This just seems insulting to me, but while we're at it let's do French too. Jay parlay francais tray good!

Up 0 Down 0

Guncache on Mar 19, 2018 at 8:23 pm

I would like them to add the language, Njerep

Up 6 Down 6

Pearl on Mar 19, 2018 at 6:17 pm

I am very happy about this.

I hope they are spelled in a way that is readable so the names will be used. For instance, using an X when the sound is Z, only throws road blocks in the way for people to say things. Southern Tuchone was not a written language so it's not like these complicating ways for spelling things are the 'traditional spelling'. It's just likely non-native people making it complicated so there's an 'in group' who knows what it says. Like that winery in BC, "Nk Mp" To me that says, 'Nik Mip' but I've heard people calling it Ineek Meep. Well just spell it Ineek Meep if that's what it is!

Okay. I am looking forward to calling these roads new names and I am on board! Right on.

Up 5 Down 7

Sandra on Mar 19, 2018 at 3:35 pm

Congratulations! Long over due!

Up 4 Down 7

Just Sayin' on Mar 19, 2018 at 3:28 pm

What about the French, since Canada's official language(s) is French.
Also, what about the other FN who used this area traditionally, but did not settle their land claims such as RRDC and LFN?

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