Five people will receive top honours for preserving or contributing to the territory’s heritage this evening at the Yukon Archives in Whitehorse.

The Yukon Historical and Museums Association (YHMA) will hold its 39th annual Yukon Heritage Awards ceremony.

The Annual Heritage Award will be presented to Colleen James, or Wolf Mother, Ghoóch Tlâ in Tlingit.

“Colleen has shown outstanding service to the protection, conservation, promotion, and development of Tséi Zhéłe/Sinwaa Éex’i Yé/Conrad Historic Site,” the YHMA said last week.

A Carcross/Tagish First Nation (C/TFN) citizen, James acted as a C/TFN representative on the site’s steering committee, where her guidance helped build a trusting partnership between C/TFN and the Government of Yukon .

“Her traditional knowledge and enthusiasm to conserve Tséi Zhéłe/Sinwaa Éex’i Yé/Conrad Historic Site were a catalyst to finalizing the management plan, which was signed in July 2022 between C/TFN and YG,” the YHMA said

“She conducted research to identify traditional use areas and practices of the C/TFN people at the site and in the surrounding area, as well as the site’s Tagish and Tlingit names; she also named the new walking trail, Łèiłú Déi (Butterfly Trail), which was developed in summer 2022 at the Conrad Campground for Yukon Parks.

“Colleen will continue with the historic site’s working group to ensure it endures as a living cultural landscape.”

Yann Herry will receive the History Maker Award.

His work has helped to grow understanding and appreciation of Yukon francophone history and heritage since his arrival in the territory in 1981.

“As a French immersion and second language teacher, Yann organized numerous student exchanges and outdoors camps focusing on Yukon francophone history and Yukon historical connections with places like France and the Netherlands,” the YHMA said.

As a researcher and historian, he has taken part in many projects, from the Alaska Highway Heritage Project to numerous publications, to an exhibition on francophone aviation history for the Yukon Transportation Museum, to multiple projects for l’Association franco-yukonnaise, and more.

In 2006, Herry completed his master’s thesis on francophones’ contribution to Yukon heritage, leading him to publish La francophonie, Northern Portraits in collaboration with Ruth Armson.

Also a volunteer, Herry has served on the Board of YHMA and currently sits on the board of the Yukon Council of Archives as well as the Société d’histoire francophone du Yukon, which he helped found in 2021 and now chairs.

Paul Gowdie will be recognized with the Helen Couch Volunteer of the Year Award for his work with Hidden Histories Society Yukon (HHSY).

“For over a decade, he has generously offered his impressive design and photography skills whenever needed, worked tirelessly behind the scenes on a wide variety of projects, and publicly represented HHSY with deep knowledge and passion,” the YHMA said.

“Paul has increased the profile of HHSY by providing professionally designed displays and promotional materials that have captured the interest of the public because of their visual appeal and content,” the YHMA added.

“He has also been a passionate speaker and co-ordinator of activities about the importance of telling stories and the history of Black and Asian Yukoners, especially their historical contributions to the cultural, social, and economic development of our communities.

The Innovation, Education, and Community Engagement Award will be presented to Cole Pauls for his 2022 graphic novel, Kwändür (“story” in Southern Tutchone).

Pauls is a Champagne and Aishihik First Nations Citizen and Tahltan comic artist, illustrator, and printmaker hailing from Haines Junction and now living in Vancouver.

“Kwändür is a creative, captivating celebration of the language, culture, and heritage of Dene and Arctic peoples,” the YHMA said.

It features a collection of short stories told in the form of comics, ranging from personal experiences, to narratives featuring traditional activities and stories, to documentary-like profiles, and more.

The illustrations, variety of stories, and use of Southern Tutchone and Tahltan languages come together in a publication that engages new audiences with Yukon heritage and provides existing audiences with a new perspective.

“In addition, through the inclusion of personal stories and discussions on topics such as Indigenous representation in pop culture, this work offers insights into the lived experiences of the creator as an Indigenous person and furthers discourse on Indigenous allyship – a vital part of work in heritage,” said the YHMA.

Like its predecessor, Kwändür also contributes to language revitali-zation; Pauls’ previous graphic novel, Dakwäkãda Warriors (2019), is a bilingual collection of three short comics in Southern Tutchone and English and was created as a language revitalization project.

Karen Murray will be honoured with the Heritage Conservation Project of the Year Award for her conservation of the Melanie Morico House through a foundation repair.

Built in 1902, the house is a contributing element to the historic residential character of the east slope area in Dawson City.

The slope of the property and adjacent street produced drainage issues that caused pressure on the basement walls. Had the problems not been addressed, the building would have become increasingly unstable.

To repair the foundation and deal with the drainage problems, the house was moved away from its original foundation, the basement filled, and the house returned to its original position on a new foundation.

“Throughout the project, Karen showed a passion for maintaining the historic features of the house such as its prominent bay window and its position on the lot,” the YHMA said.

The conservation project was successful in following the Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada through the evaluation of structural systems, planning, and thorough documentation of each project stage.

The critical foundation repairs will ensure the Melanie Morico House will remain part of Dawson City’s heritage fabric well into the future, the YHMA said. This award is sponsored by the Department of Tourism and Culture.

Yukoners are invited to attend the ceremony in person at the Yukon Archives or livestreamed on the YHMA Facebook page at https:// www.facebook.com/Yukonheritage.

The event will begin at 7 p.m., with doors opening at the Archives at 6:45 p.m. No registration is required.