.........

SELECT A CATEGORY ABOVE

	Champagne/Aishihik

Traditional Way of Life

"Pre-contact Tutchone lived in semi-nomadic groups fishing for salmon and whitefish in spring and summer and hunting moose, sheep and woodland caribou in the fall. Fur trapping and trading had become a central part of their domestic economy before 1900."(The Yukon at a Glance, P. 5)

"The Southern Tutchone who lived around Kluane, Aishihik, Dezadeash, Hutshi and Marsh Lakes depended on fish in the spring. Before the ice melted, they set or speared whitefish, trout, jackfish, or grayling. Later they fished for suckers and killed muskrats, beaver and ducks. Small bands of caribou could be hunted in the mountains if people were hungry.

In June, some of the Kluane, Aishihik and Hutshi Indians traveled south to Neskatahin (Old Dalton Post) on the Alsek River. Others went northwest to the Nisling River or northeast to the Carmacks and Selkirk areas to fish for salmon with their relatives or to trade for the dry fish. They had to do this because no salmon ran in the Aishihik, Kaskawulsh or Dezadeash Rivers.

Then small family groups worked their way back to their own countries hunting sheep and fishing for dogfood along the way. Two households might travel together and share the meat, but the groups were seldom larger.

...Ice fishing for whitefish and trout began in late October in the southwestern Yukon, but people stopped fishing in mid-November because it grew so cold and there were fewer fish.

By late June or July, when salmon reached Neskatahin and Klukshu, everybody was busy catching, cutting and drying salmon.

...In the fall, the Alsek River Tutchone moved into the mountains to hunt gopher, moose and caribou. In the coldest part of the year they returned to stay in their big winter houses at Neskatahin or Klukshu. ... In late winter and early spring, the people began to get whitefish from under the ice of Dezadeash Lake, Kusawa Lake or some other good spots; then they went back to their salmon camp.

... In Klukshu, relatives from elsewhere might arrive, and the Tlingit traders came too. It was an exciting time of feasting, dancing and storytelling, as well as a chance for the Yukon Indians to get European trade goods and coastal delicacies like dried clams or seaweed in exchange for their furs and other products." (Part of the Land, Part of the Water, Pp. 158-159)

---

	Champagne/Aishihik

Tourism Development "Interpretation of the area`s cultural and historic resources is virtually non-existent. The resource base in this case includes natural history, a variety of native settlements (e.g. Klukshu Village and Champagne), the historic Silver City area, the mining and economic history, the Dalton Trail and Skolais and the history of Alaska Highway construction. All are of interest to tourist markets and interpretation of these resources can add additional activities of interest and encourage longer stays. The Silver City and Klukshu Village sites, in particular, offer considerable potential to serve as historic tourist attractions, each with their own themes. Diversification of the resource product base in this way adds significantly to the strength of the overall region`s tourism product. ...Proposed Tourism Development: ... a tram facility on Paint Mountain proposed by the Champagne-Aishihik Band. ...Each community and Indian Band has a major and significant role to play if a true destination focus is to be achieved for the region. Both the day tour and multi-day wilderness packages offer potential for the creation of small business enterprises to service this market. These tourism opportunities are particularly significant for Indian Bands, given their Land Claims areas, some of which have the highest potential for the specialized tour market. The region`s heritage and cultural resources largely remain hidden from the visitor at present. Product diversification in this area consistent with the spirit and intent of the Tourism Action Plan can further diversify the tourism product available in the region. ...The tourism development plan recommended in this report provides a tourism perspective, thereby serving as useful input for the Yukon Land Use Planning process. ...Indian bands must also be a "partner" in the tourism development process. Under the Interim Land Claims Agreement, Indian bands will own and control several key areas within the region. Their participation in the economic opportunities afforded by tourism development will be contingent on a co-operative and supportive relationship with government as it proceeds to implement public sector projects and deliver supporting education, training and financing assistance programs. ...Many representatives of industry, communities and Bands expressed concern that tourism development, while desired, could create social problems. They were also concerned about outside investors taking the tourism opportunities. Recognizing that there is not a full understanding of the destination potential, the plan must incorporate phased development to mitigate social impacts and provide support to develop skills and expertise in the region. ...The Dalton Post area can serve as a day use area offering access to Million Dollar Falls and interpretation of the historic and cultural resources of the location. This would include interpretation of Klukshu village, upgrading vehicular access to the Falls, and the introduction of interpretative signage related to the historic resources. ...The public sector development proposed for this site will depend on consultation with the Champagne-Aishihik Band."(Kluane Region Tourism Development Plan 1989, Pp.3-4 to 7-13)