LAND AND LANGUAGE CONNECTOR
OLD CROW

Charyl’s life work is to promote Gwich’in language and culture among her people. Growing up in Fort McPherson, she attended high school in Inuvik and Whitehorse, and post-secondary at Yukon College, NAIT and Red Deer College. She later moved to Old Crow to raise her family in a traditional Gwich’in way. She served many years in the community as both the Education Director for Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation and as an Educational Assistant and Education Support Worker at Chief Zzeh Gittlit School. She has also been a member of the Teechik Dancers, performing Gwich’in dances at various venues.

For students to achieve strong educational outcomes, Charyl believes schools and communities need to work hand-in-hand – and listen to the needs of the youth.

The connection to culture, language, tradition and community play an integral role in developing well-respected individuals, strong in their identity.

In her new role with the First Nation School Board, Charyl is looking forward to connecting with as many Elders and Knowledge Holders to work on helping others learn the language, tradition and culture.

LAND AND LANGUAGE CONNECTOR

BEAVER CREEK

I am married to David Johnny Sr. and we have 4 biological children, 5 traditionally adopted children, 25 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild.

I am originally from Northway, Alaska where I was raised by my grandmother and the help of other grandmothers and grandfathers. I was raised knowing my language, culture and history and spent many hours with Elders of the community.

I was born to Martha (Northway) and Andrew Sam and am the last child of 10. My grandparents are Walter and Lilly (John) Northway and Chief and Bessie (Enoch) Sam.

I graduated from 12 grade in 1984 at Walter Northway High School, after moving to Canada in 1985 where I still live. I worked in many departments with White River First Nation until 2010, in 2007 I entered Yukon College for language teacher certification and started teaching at Nelnah Bessie John School until 2022 when I retired and left language teaching to an individual I was mentoring at the school and who is still taking courses at Yukon University.

I also assist my husband doing on the land teachings to whomever wants to learn - but mostly children - and also assist teachers back in Alaska with language upon request. I have also assisted Doyon Ltd. in Alaska with language recordings of my language.

I love being on the land with my husband and family and I continue to teach my grandchildren the tradition and culture of mine and my husband’s ways of life.

I am the First Nation School Board’s Land and Language Connector in Beaver Creek!

LAND AND LANGUAGE CONNECTOR

WHITEHORSE

Hi! My name is Kailen Gingell. I am a Kwanlin Dun First Nation citizen of the wolf clan. I have also been culturally adopted by the Daklaweidi killer whale clan to represent my Tlingit roots. I was born and raised in Whitehorse, but spent 6 years in Victoria, BC to complete my degree in Art History & Visual Studies at the University of Victoria.

I have extensive experience working with First Nations artists, through both organizing workshops and setting up art exhibitions. In my schooling, I focussed on Indigenous art from the North, the Northwest Coast, and the American Southwest. I have had the privilege to work very closely with some of the Yukon’s best artists, and I cherish the relationships I have been able to build over the years.

When not working, I enjoy any opportunity to get out on the land, especially near streams, rivers, and the coast. I spend much of my time practicing photography and shooting video. I also like to work on my art, primarily focusing on studying works from the Northwest Coast and dabbling in printmaking, design, and other visual arts. I am a huge chess fan and have been slowly improving over the last year. I am also a huge geography nerd and like to spend time researching new places to visit and learning about other cultures and places.

Through guidance from my Elders and peers, I look forward to helping bring Land and Language into the forefront of our education systems here in the Yukon.

LAND AND LANGUAGE CONNECTOR

WHITEHORSE

Hello! I'm Jessica Gatensby (maiden name Jacobs), wife of Jeremiah Gatensby from Carcross/Tagish First Nation. We have three wonderful children: Oliver, Cameron, and Ava. My parents are Teresa and Joel Jacobs, and my grandparents are Frank and Rose Billy.

I come from the Lake Leberge people on TKC traditional territory, with teachings from TKC knowledge keepers. I'm the great-great-granddaughter of Chief Jim Boss and a member of the Crow Clan of Champagne and Aishihik First Nation. I've learned traditional ways from Haines Junction's knowledge keepers and Southern Ontario's Eelünaapéewi Lahkéewiit.

Raised with cultural teachings, I have certifications in white water rescue and fisheries, and I've worked as the cultural support worker for CYFN. I've shared my culture in schools and community events, including winning the 2024 Yukon Rendezvous competition and holding the title of Reigning Rendezvous Queen.

My previous work in Justice has given me the ability to work without judgment and with compassion. I’ve worked with people from all walks of life, helping them deal with various situations that arise.

I'm looking forward to collaborating with an inspiring team to integrate Culture and Language into Whitehorse FNSB schools.

LAND AND LANGUAGE CONNECTOR

DAKWAKATA (HAINES JUNCTION)

Hello, my name is Dakalama (Tracy Kane) I live in Dakwakata, (Haines Junction) Ajesadla Katsa dan Ku First Nations School Board ichi. (I am the Land and Language Connector for St Elias Community School)

I am married to Hugh, from Lhuaan Mun Keyi (Kluane) and we have two children Gochoox (Justin) and Kwansha (Abigail) I am of the Agunda (Wolf) Clan Southern Tutchone and Daktaweidi (Killer Whale) Alaska Tlingit. I am a citizen of Champagne Aishihik First Nations. (CAFN)

I attended University of Alberta and I have worked for CAFN in various positions for the past 25+ years, but always working with children, youth and education. The connection I have to our knowledge keepers and the cultural teachings has helped me help others.

Dak annta je, Nanuchi (Take care of yourself and see you soon)

LAND AND LANGUAGE CONNECTOR

CARCROSS

My name is Eileen Wally I’m a member of the Carcross/Tagish First Nation.

I’m a Ishkiahittaan clan member and my emblem is the frog my Tlingit name is Dage I’m a mother of two children and a grandmother and a great grandmother. I have been a active member of our First Nation government for many years in all different capacities I  have been involved in education for many years,. I was the CELC for 15 years in our school and I sat on school council for many years. I think bringing our elders and our youth together and leaning our ways well be a great benefit to us all we need each other to be a family again. 

I’m very honoured to be a part of the Land and Language Connectors team and I have great hopes to make some changes for the positive to have more of our language in our school and culture they do go hand and hand and as a team of great people we can make a big difference for our future generation.

Gunałchéesh!

LAND AND LANGUAGE CONNECTOR

PELLY CROSSING

Shannon Morrison is a Selkirk First Nation citizen of the wolf can and was born in Whitehorse and raised in Pelly Crossing. Growing up, Shannon spent a lot of time with her Grandparents Danny Joe and Late Betty Joe.

Shannon was taught how to sew, bead, hunt, and harvest at an early age. She had been working for her First Nation as a Cultural Coordinator and is now taking on the role as Land and Language Connector at Eliza Van Bibber School.

One of her goals as a mother is to raise her son with the traditional teachings and she looks forward to sharing these teachings with the students she will be working with at EVB.

Shannon is happy to start this new chapter in her career and is eager to teach the kids at the school what she was taught growing up and to carry on the traditional knowledge and values of the Northern Tutchone People.

You can reach Shannon as 1-867-334-8511.

LANGUAGE COACH

Drin hǫzǫ!

Nëkhwenëk-’ąy shò ìhłąy. I am happy to see you all.

Shǫzrè’ dënezhu Lë̀jìt. My First Nations name is Lë̀jìt.

Dawson City ts’ä̀n dihch’e. I am from Dawson City.

I am a Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in citizen of the wolf clan. My mother is Bertha McLeod who taught Hän Language at Robert Service School in the 1990s. My grandparents are Mason and Martha McLeod who adopted me when I was born. I have spent a good part of my youth with my grandparents travelling around the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Traditional Territory and spending time along the Yukon River at various fish camps, including Moosehide.

I have worked for Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in for the better part of 20 years in many capacities primarily in the Heritage Department. I have also worked as a Hän Language Teacher with the Department of Education, and with Yukon Parks as a Tombstone Park Interpreter. I started with the First Nation School Board in November 2023.

I am excited to work with our FNSB schools to support them in strengthening our First Nations languages in and out of the classroom. We hope to see our First Nations languages in all our learning spaces.

Mähsį’

LANGUAGE COACH

Sha’ala uye ch’e dän k’è
Luke Campbell uye ch’e guch’än k’è
Ägunda ích’e
Shadhęl ra ayetäw nìínje

I am member of Champagne and Aishihik First Nation and of the wolf clan.

I have previously worked for CAFN as an Elementary Education Support Worker in the Whitehorse schools. In this position, I had the privilege of working closely with students, families, and school staff to facilitate student success in school. I enjoyed doing land-based camps with youth in Kluskhu, walking älur dän tän to Hutshi, and canoeing the Takhini and Dezedeash rivers.

I have also had the honour of working as the Language Coordinator for CAFN where I assisted in producing resources in dän k’è (Southern Tutchone) for learners. I spent many hours working with master speakers to record and document dän k’è and I cherish every moment I spent with my elders.

I understand the importance of language and culture in school and how they go hand-in-hand to increase language fluency in students and school staff. I am very excited to be working with Language Teachers in our schools.

I grew up between Kwänlin and Shadhęl ra. You will find me either outside on an adventure with ádlį Kokoa, spending a weekend at chank’ùa, at a nàkwàt’à, or working on a project at home.

LAND BASED COACH

Yak’ei yagiyee,

My Tlingit name is Yáandakhin Yeił and Yeił s’ixi I am Kùkhhittàn (Raven Child) clan from Teslin. I am a grandchild and great grandchild of the Dakhł’awedí (killer whale) clan. I grew up connected to the land fishing, hunting, and trapping with my family on the South Canol road and in the Teslin Area. A deep connection to place and culture has guided me through several careers and some of life’s challenges.

I was a pilot for two decades and am grateful for the lessons I had as a child that proved invaluable in my flying career. I love being out with the land and especially love teaching and guiding trips. I spent several years guiding trips in the Yukon and internationally. This passion for the land led to youth work and land-based, experiential education. For the last eleven years I have worked at Yukon Education with the First Nations Initiatives branch as a First Nations Experiential Advisor.

Cultural ways of knowing, doing and being, and our languages are central to all that we do as First Nations people and is the most important part of my career in Education. I am deeply humbled to be part of the FNSB team and am excited to work with our communities and staff!