100 Steps Further In
Faro-based artist Jackie Irvine set herself a challenge. What if she painted one painting a day for 100 days? Starting October 1, 2011 she did […]
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Didee & Didoo – Poem “Being Caribou”
Allan Benjamin is a cartoonist from Old Crow, Yukon.
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Transparency Theory
The Yukon School of Visual Arts (SOVA) in Dawson City is going on the road. Students and faculty will arrive in Whitehorse next week to
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The Origins of Berton House: Pt. 2
When I left off with this history of the Berton House, Pierre Berton had bought back his childhood home for $50,000 in 1989 and donated
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Didee & Didoo – Poem “Here Are The News”
Here Are The News: Jerome went up river to cut wood and Albert say he’s doing good. Stephen went to Whitehorse for dog race and
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Active Every Day
Dawson City has earned a place as the Yukon finalist for CBC’s “Live Right Now” competition, putting the town in the running to win a
Didee & Didoo – Poem “Bruce”
“BRUCE” I’m not as tough as Bruce He’s as strong as a moose. He has lots of power ‘cause he can pack flour. In the
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A Vision Becomes a Reality at the Gathering Place
“We had a vision in the fall, last year, of building an outdoor classroom at Robert Service School,” Hän Language teacher Melissa Hawkins explained to
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Saving a Language and a Culture
Doris Roberts hates to fly, but when it came time to go to Tanacross, Alaska, to retrieve the songs and stories that Chief Isaac had
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Miners Have a Bone to Pick with Pre-History
There’s a lot more than gold in them thar hills and creeks in the Klondike. Aside from all kinds of other minerals that just don’t
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Fall Glory
Tall, spindly, awkward spruce trees stand uneven, twisted and wobbly due to the permafrost effects. Their majestic spires stand out more then ever right now.
All Dolled Up
Sewing Our Traditions: Dolls of Canada’s North will be on display at Dawson’s Dänojà Zho Cultural Centre until September 21, held over from the centre’s
Picking the Greatest Klondiker
It has, unfortunately, been a number of years since a really top-notch piece of stagecraft graced the boards at the Palace Grand Theatre on a
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Didee & Didoo – Poem “Victor Cheated Death”
Victor Cheated Death He left his kids and wife and he lost his life. They all cried ‘cause the husband had died. It happened in
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Gallery Hopping as a Discovery Event
A combination of literary, historic, sports, and arts related activities have created a five-day visitor attraction filled with annual events.
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Didee & Didoo – Poem “Margaret Blackfox”
Toughest Gwichin She was as tough as rocks my great grandma Margaret Blackfox. She was the toughest Gwichin ‘cause any race she can win. Didoo
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Taking a Walk Along Writers’ Block
Dawson survives as it does because it had prominent champions among the wordsmiths of the 20th century. Without the stories of Jack London, the poetry
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Didee & Didoo – Poem “Better To Be Poor”
Better To Be Poor It’s better to be poor than to have more. It’s better to be poor than to be sore. It’s better to
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Celebrating Print and Publishing at the Daily News
The Dawson Daily News building shut down as an operating business in 1954, a casualty of Dawson losing its Yukon capital status to Whitehorse. The
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How Scrooge Made his Fortune
Around this time of year I usually devote a few columns to some of the literary lions that have helped to make Dawson City famous
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An Art Invasion is Coming to Dawson
Welcome to another peek at my corner of the Klondike. Apparently this little column is getting a bit of notice, since my absence last issue
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ArtsFest Aims to Carve Itself a New Emphasis
In its 10th year, the Yukon Riverside Arts Festival, has made a few changes intended to give people more to do, as opposed to just
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Dawson Blooms in the Summer
I managed to mow our lawn before the rain began to sprinkle this morning and was pleased to find that several of the dog damaged
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The Bear Creek Key
For Yukoners who grew up in Dawson City in the 1950s and ’60s, Bear Creek is a symbol of a lost age. The abandoned mining
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A Gathering of Nations
Moosehide Gathering organizer Allison and her sister Shauna Kormendy laugh to think of the length of time the gathering has been happening. “A long time,”
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The Berton House Boomerang Effect
I was enjoying an hour’s quiet reading on our front deck last week when a familiar French-Canadian voice hailed me from the street. I wasn’t
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Michael Mason’s Single Line
It’s a slow Sunday afternoon and Michael Mason is a little discouraged at the low turnout for his one-man art show at the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in
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Dawson Museum Celebrates 50 Years
At the turn of the 19th century the federal government was anxious to establish that the Yukon was a valued part of the nation. Even
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An Experiment in Triangular Action
“You’re not writing anything the way you’re used to writing it. You’re not reading it that way either. Adding, subtracting, arranging. You’re not looking for
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A Klondike Korner: When Dawson Celebrated Independence Day
As the calendar moves inexorably towards Canada Day, with all the busyness of the holiday combined with the Yukon Goldpanning Championships, which fill up much
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Walking Away from Disaster
On May 8, Darren Bullen woke up on a small gravel island, upside-down in a single engine Cessna, with the weight of a man on
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The “True” Tale of Diamond Lil
There are, as Robert Service noted, strange things done ‘neath the Midnight Sun. There have also been some strange things written, not the least of
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See the Dredge, While You Can
If you want to get a really good look at Dredge #4 on the Bonanza Road, this summer is the time to do it. This
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Night Runners
There are many ways to enjoy the midnight sun. Fishing, hiking and gardening are all popular, but how about running a marathon? That’s right, on
Didee & Didoo – Poem “River”
RIVER It can rise and drop and it will never stop. It can be fast or slow and it will always flow. It can be
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Come Toss a Caber
Having spent a bit of time in Scotland, I can attest that the scenery in the Highlands bears more than a passing resemblance to the
Out of the Forest
Humans are attracted to animals on an instinctual level, yet more than 50 percent of us now live in urban settings, worldwide (as of 2008).
Dawson Dresses Up
Breakup is usually followed by a week of damp chilliness as the cool air moving off the exposed river hits the town, but this year
It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like “You Know What”
Here in the Klondike we are currently forging through Advent and into the Christmas season. The month of the Christmas bazaars – otherwise known as
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A Gift from the Odd Fellows
Last night I attended the delightful Dawson City showing of the David Mamet play, Boston Marriage. Two days earlier the KIAC Christmas Art and Craft
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The Ice Bridge Begins
I finally managed to spot the place where they are crossing the Yukon River yesterday (November 19). I’ve been hearing stories of people making the
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Another Housing Crunch
First, and most obviously, it is now attached to its sister institution, the new campus for Yukon College (or Tr’odek Hatr’unohtan Zho), as noted here
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Remarkable Dedication in the Dead Centre of Town
Hardly anyone knows more about Dawson’s cemeteries than Ed and Star Jones. These days the Joneses live in Santa Fe, New Mexico. They don’t commute
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What Happens In Keno
In mid-June, the tiny community of Keno City (pop. 25) was invaded. The invasion was led by a veritable army of women from Dawson City
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Boardwalks and Visitors
It figures. Leave town for a week and they change things. In this case, it’s the boardwalks they’re changing, and I can’t complain about that
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Dawson Goes to the Dogs
In early February the sun begins to kiss the streets in Dawson City. It’s been lurking along the tops of the hills for some time,
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The Joys of a Good House Concert
Here in Dawson we’re into the second year of working with the Home Routes organization to stage a series of House Concerts. These help to
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How Others See Us PDF
It’s always interesting to learn how other people see us. Three creative spirits passed our way a couple of weeks ago and left us with
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Tr’ondek Hwich’in Celebrate at Moosehide
The 10th Moosehide Gathering will take place at Moosehide (where else?) from July 29 to Aug. 1. Moosehide is located five kilometres downstream from Dawson
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Art Glass Blossoms in Downtown Juneau
May’s “First Friday” walk in Juneau, Alaska included 10 art openings and events downtown in the state capital. At the Canvas Community Art Studio and
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Take Tea on the Tarahne
ATLIN “Savoury?” A young girl with pigtails and a shy smile, wearing a frilly pink party dress, held out a silver tray to the four
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Building Character With (Carcross) Style
CARCROSS The epitome of character building is reflected in the faces and personalities of the Carcross Visitor Information Centre (VIC) team as they meet the
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It’s All About Location
HAINES JUNCTION The staff who work at the Haines Junction Visitor Information Centre (VIC) believe it’s all about location. After all, who wouldn’t enjoy arriving
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The Gateway to the Yukon Greets Visitors With a Smile
Watson Lake, the Gateway to Yukon, has much to offer to visitors and Yukoners alike. Just stop in at the Watson Lake Visitor Information Centre
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Museum Prepares You for the Drive
BURWASH LANDING If you are fortunate enough to have already driven through portions of Kluane National Park, you know the breathtaking scenery that lies behind
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Klondike History Comes Alive
DAWSON CITY For many people, coming to the Yukon means coming to Dawson City. Located in the heart of the Klondike, Dawson is one of
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Atlin is Great for Young Explorers
We drove down to Atlin for the May long weekend for some family time. Atlin is one of my favourite getaway places. The town is
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True Ambassadors for the Yukon
The Whitehorse Visitor Information Centre first opened its doors in 1996. Since that time it has greeted thousands of visitors arriving by land, sea and
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Race for mayor should not be all or nothing
This method of choosing a mayor from an odd number of councillors is already allowed for in the Municipal Act, requiring just a bylaw.
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