Champagne and Aishihik Citizens Awarded Yukon 125 anniversary medals
Congratulations to Barb and Chuck Hume, Kathy VanBibber, Dave Joe, Chief James Allen, Margaret Workman, Lilly Smith, Lena Smith-Tutin, Kyra Chambers, Matsʼäsäna Mą Primozic, and for the late Chief Bob Charlie. Also a special mention for Margaret Commodore.
The Government of Yukon is commemorating the territory’s 125th anniversary by awarding 125 medals to Yukoners who embody the values of leadership and reconciliation and contributed significantly to the wellbeing of the Territory.
Champagne and Aishihik First Nations government is proud of our recipients and thanks them for their dedication and contribution over the years.
Each medal features original artwork created by Carcross/Tagish First Nation artist Violet Gatensby. The artwork, Resilient Hearts/Insightful Vision, was designed to celebrate Yukoners who have demonstrated strong foresight and work ethic to foster a future where all generations can heal and thrive.
Barb Hume has been involved with CAFN since the 1960s when the CAFN offices were in a one-room cabin at Haines Junction (Dakwäkäda). She recalls when they would have to stoke the wood stove to keep the offices warm in winter. Barb has held many hats within the First Nations and most recently within Community Wellness as her interest is always in advancing child welfare for CAFN. She continues to be actively involved in CAFN through boards and committees and meetings such as the General Assemblies. She is also a member of the Yukon Residential Schools Missing Children working group.
Chuck Hume has been married to Barb for over 50 years and also has been involved with CAFN in his capacity as a Councilor, Elder and other roles. He has worked as a Park Warden with Kluane National Park in Haines Junction and is always the Elder who will tell us stories from the past and what it was like in the early days. He also attends meetings and our General Assemblies to provide input. He is the Elder representative to the Assembly of First Nations (Yukon Region).
Both Barb and Chuck are treasures to CAFN and continue to contribute and be involved in the government.
Kathy Vanbibber held the position of a CAFN Councillor for 16 years or 4 terms. She helped CAFN develop and form the government structures following the effective date of the land claims signing. Kathy worked in the CAFN Department of Education to ensure the post-secondary program was properly administered. She still works in the Human Resource department. Kathy is hard-working and consistent which are traits that we all would like to model. She is an active representative on boards and committees, internally to CAFN and Yukon Government. She lives in Champagne and continues to attend meetings that are important to her. She still advocates for education today.
The late Bob Charlie was Chief of CAFN for 1 term. He was also an entertainer/singer with a smooth, velvety voice that was an instrumental part of the Klukshu Flats Boogie Band that performed at many dances in Yukon communities in the 1970s to 2000s. He was also part of an earlier band in the 1960s called the D’Mans that played at many dances at Skookum Jim Friendship Centre. He also worked in communications and radio for many years and was instrumental in getting messages out to First Nations Citizens about the land claims negotiations. Bob also worked for ten years supporting residential school survivors in the Yukon and across Canada. Bob was known as the Singing Chief to members of CAFN. He was a Yukon icon.
CAFN Citizen, Dave Joe has been involved with land claims negotiations since his teenage years. As a young boy he was persuaded by Chief Elijah Smith to pursue post-secondary education so he could contribute to the land claims preparation work needed in the 1960s and 1970s. He helped the Chiefs prepare “Together Today for Our Children Tomorrow” document that initiated the land claim process in the Yukon. Dave graduated from law school and was called to the Yukon Bar in 1977, being the first Yukon First Nation lawyer to be called to the Bar. Dave worked as Chief Negotiator for the Council of Yukon Indians land claims negotiations, and still practices law today. He has many clients in the Yukon and across Canada. He still is CAFN’s lawyer on many topics. Dave has received the Order of Canada and the Order of Yukon for his tireless work. He remains a humble man with strong cultural roots, and we honour him for that.
After a long career in forestry and public service, James Allen served two terms as the Chief of CAFN. He guided CAFN government through the early years of developing and forming a government. James has also held healing camps for men at his traditional area at Christmas Bay. James currently operates a tour company that brings people from around the world to his traditional area so that they can learn about the Southern Tutchone culture. He also has space to hold meetings on the land. James continues to promote Yukon First Nations tourism on the national and international level and has been the voice or face in those commercials. He was Chancellor for the Yukon University and is Elder representative for the Council of Yukon First Nations. He is still active in CAFN meetings and provides the input that is needed. James is a role model for CAFN Citizens.
Margaret was a pioneer with the Yukon Native Language Centre. She was a language teacher who taught Southern Tutchone to many Yukoners in the Yukon school system and at the post-secondary level. Margaret’s first language is Southern Tutchone so it was easy for her to teach the language in a way that other language speakers would understand. She received many innovations in teaching awards. She grew up in Aishihik (Äshèyi) and has many stories to share with us about her early days on the land. She is actively involved in meetings on Äshèyi and at CAFN General Assemblies that provide direction to CAFN government. Margaret still continues to attend meetings and provide her input on issues. She received the Council of Federation of Literacy awards in 2015. We treasure her cultural knowledge and ability to teach culture and language to all of us.
Lilly Smith was involved with CAFN in the 1960s when the offices were in a one-room cabin in Haines Junction (Dakwäkäda). She recalls many stories from the early days of the administration. She worked with CAFN in several roles but most recently before her retirement, she was the CAFN enrollment clerk. She was our go-to person with any questions that we may have had about enrollment. She is still consulted today. Lilly spends time with her family, beading and reminding us about our traditions. She is one of the backbones to our nation who has the corporate history and the traditional knowledge.
Lena Smith-Tutin has been involved with CAFN since the 1960s when the office was in a one-room cabin in Haines Junction (Dakwäkäda). She worked for CAFN in many different capacities and retired a few years ago as CAFN’s Finance Director. Lena was involved with CAFN on the effective date of the Land Claims and Self-Government Agreements. She was instrumental in developing and setting up a government for CAFN. Lena and her sister worked for 7 years to help CAFN create a language dictionary to help preserve the Southern Tutchone language. The Dakwanje dictionary is a 72-page pocket-size book that Citizens can carry with them and look up the translation of English words into Southern Tutchone. Lena continues to be involved in meetings that relate to Aishihik (Äshèyi), community meetings, General Assemblies, and so on. Lena is well respected by CAFN.
Kyra Chambers is the Equine Director for Shäwthän Näzhì: Healing with the Land Society, Kyra has taught many Indigenous youth leadership skills and backcountry horse riding skills.
Matsʼäsäna Mą Primozic has made significant contributions to the revitalization of the Dákwänje language and Southern Tutchone culture. Matsʼäsäna Mą joined the Dákwänjē language immersion program in 2018, graduating in 2021. Matsʼäsäna Mą works for Champagne and Aishihik First Nations as a language immersion instructor. Through her teachings, she continues to emphasize the healing power of language and its vital role in cultural identity.
CAFN would also like to give special mention to Margaret Commodore . Margaret supported First Nations children, built social activities and services for Indigenous people, and played a key role in amending the Indian Act. Margaret has also served as a Justice of the Peace, was elected to the Yukon Legislative Assembly in 1982, and held two terms as a Cabinet Minister in the NDP government.
Congratulations to all.