Traditional Principles Guide the Way

Traditional principles play a key role in our Land Relationship Planning. Our stories, oral history, purpose, passion and way of being inform the direction of this plan and have helped us in decolonizing our way of thinking. In this way, we are shaping our own world rather than having others shape it for us.

Land use planning is a western concept. Where a western world view understands the natural environment as a set of resources, First Nations people understand it as a series of enduring relationships.

First Nation Elders of the Southern Lakes gathered together in May, 2017 at Helen’s fish camp to begin visioning this process. They talked about how things were done in the past and what traditional customs and practices were critical for this process to succeed. These conversations led to the adoption of the seasonal round which formed the foundation of our project charter. Elders and leadership gathered again in October 2017 to celebrate the signing of this project charter and its key principles:

The Project Charter’s key principles:

• Honour All Our Relations Our connections make us stronger. We recognize what we have in common, our individual strengths and support each other. 

• Acknowledge Everything Is Connected We value different ways of knowing, including traditional, technical and scientific knowledges.  We aim to provide a holistic First Nations perspective.

• Generations Coming Together Involve Elders, youth and children together, so that the transfer of knowledge occurs and the relationships are strengthened. We recognize that our actions affect the future.

• How We Talk, How We Walk We conduct ourselves with respect when interacting with each other and the land and water. Our words frame our thinking and direct our actions. We will work to be flexible and adaptive in our planning. 

• Give Something Back After Taking We understand our relationships with each other, the animals, and the land and water, so we never take without giving back. We do this by offering ceremony and prayer, and sharing our knowledge. 

These principles support the indigenous seasonal round framework. Yukon First Nations people understood that peace and harmony throughout the home, the community, on the land, with the animals, and with the whole universe were maintained when they adhered to the traditional laws.

To live healthy lives in balance with nature, people followed these laws in moving on a seasonal round that ensured they could gather food and medicines at all times of the year.

To fully understand the seasonal round is to understand that First Nations communities were made up of harvest specialists. Some were more skilled at moose hunting, some at gathering medicinal plants, others as salmon fishers and yet others as meat and hide processors.

Through the practice of reciprocity, meat, fish, furs, medicine and other goods were shared to the benefit of everyone in the community.

The seasonal round in Southern Lakes include these activities:

Spring— balance and respect

A time of new growth, learning, and understanding. Respecting the land and water, and all of its inhabitants. Understanding that actions now will affect the future.

• In spring people moved to the mouths of creeks for grayling and to collect plants such as bear root.

Summer— wholeness

A time when First Nations people come together to work (fish gathering, berry picking, summer camps). A time of fullness and bloom when all of the preparation, education, sharing and respect become apparent.

• Early summer traders came from the coast and neighbours came from afar to visit. Late summer brought salmon harvesting and drying activities in places like Kwanlin.

Fall—inter-relationship

A time when our relationships are brought to fruit. The relationship between people, the land and the water leads to healthy animals who provide for healthy people.

• Fall was for moose and sheep hunting, meat processing and storage and hide tanning and sewing.

Winter—inter-connectedness

A time of healing and rest, coming together, connection and preparation. Sharing information with family and friends, and learning.

• In winter, people formed small family groups near lakes where they could fish and hunt.

“Our creator’s laws are non-negotiable. We have natural laws about the animals. We have tribal and traditional law. This kept us together and this included sharing. The more we share the better we will be.”

  
~ KDFN Elder, attending Southern Lakes Elders Visioning at Helen’s Fish Camp, May 10, 2017