Western Command
Sid van der Meer is an antiquarian and a storyteller; he has many wild yarns to share with his family, friends, and visitors who come […]
Good Things Come In Small Packages
Discover the hidden gems of Watson Lake shopping with an impressive selection of international food products and more.
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Christmas Eve Preparations Before Halloween?
Learn the advantages of early Christmas preparations and how to stay organized for a joyful holiday season.
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Didee & Didoo – Poem “Uncle Don”
Uncle Don Uncle Don was born at Bluefish and he always hunt and fish. Uncle Don is my mom’s brother an’ Clara Frost is his
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Carli and Julie’s Yukon Adventure
On a cool Monday evening at the Old Crow Community Hall, up-and-coming country musicians Carli and Julie Kennedy played the last show of their first
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Rafting Down the Porcupine River
This year wood was cut in March. Joseph does janitorial work at Chief Zzheh Gittlit School; this year he had two weeks off. As a
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Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in and Yukon College Join Forces
There is an exciting new project underway near Dawson City. On September 19, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in (TH) and
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Keeping Busy Now that the Tourists are Gone
Most of the tourists are gone in mid-October and the Klondike is settling into its off-season routine. Across the river in West Dawson and Sunnydale,
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Didee & Didoo – Poem “Thin Ice”
Thin Ice When you are on thin ice you have to think twice. If you make one mistake you can fall in the lake. If
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Up Up, Down Down, Left Right, B A B A, Start
If you’re in your mid-thirties like I am, you may remember watching one of your parents playing Super Mario Bros. on the Nintendo. Back the
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Didee & Didoo – Poem “Busy Beaver”
Busy Beaver They work nonstop but they don’t chop. They don’t use a saw they use their jaw. A busy beaver doesn’t use a cleaver.
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Where Have All The Colours Gone?
On the day I am writing this, Whitehorse and Haines Junction are inches deep in their first winter snow and Dawson, while chilly and damp,
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Didee & Didoo – Poem “Gwichin Princess”
There’s a peaceful little town on the banks of the river where the wolf an’ caribou roan That’s where she calls her home. In summer
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Boiling Water
Waking up to a layer of snow on the ground, Sid van der Meer ventures out to his museum. He is getting ready for winter
Didee & Didoo – Poem “Depression”
Depression Hard times are coming an’ there will be bumming. Times will be tough an’ there won’t be enough. On the land we have to
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Fuelling Up
The beginning of September brings snow to Beaver Creek, home of Sid van der Meer’s Bordertown Garage & Museum. On a chilly September morning, van
Serendipity Happens?
The other day I let my daughter Emily watch Tim Burtons’ The Nightmare Before Christmas for the first time. She has developed a keen interest
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Let’s Run It Up The Flagpole And See Whom Salutes
The facetious title of this article, which dates back to the 1950s and 1960s, is a metaphor for trying out an idea to see who
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The Glory Days of Outhouse Races Past
The Klondike Outhouse Race was inspired by chatter in a bar. “the barnstorming biffies charge through Dawson like a dose of castor oil.”
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The Joys of Reading in Beaver Creek
This year was Beaver Creek Library’s first year participating in the TD Summer Reading Club (SRC). The summer reading program is a joint initiative by TD
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Watson Lake Has a New Bowling Alley
Residents of Watson Lake can now throw strikes and spares in style. The bowling alley at the Morgan Chaddock Recreation Centre is now computerized, which
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Keeping Warm
This week, van der Meer tells the story of his collection of White Pass and stagecoach foot warmers. As the winter months are fast approaching,
Allan Benjamin and the origins of Didee & Didoo
Anyone who reads What’s up Yukon regularly will have come across the comic strip, Didee & Didoo. The comic was created by Old Crow resident,
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Things that Go Bang in the Night
We had fireworks just the other night. No one I’ve spoken with seems to know exactly who set them off down by the river. There
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My Son, Edward
My son Edward Kyikavichick is handicapped. Since birth, he lived in Whitehorse in a foster home for many years. This allowed us, his parents, to
Jay vs. the Terrible Twos
Living in Old Crow is not for everybody, but it does have its advantages. It’s a quiet town with good people where you can enjoy
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Not Content with Watching the River Flow
Some people are just not content to watch the river flow.They have to get in it and, as Ratty said to Mole in The Wind
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A Mothering Hen
When Kaska master carver Dennis Shorty talks about his art, the conversation is more likely to focus on his respect for the materials he uses than
Catching up with Harreson Tanner
Last October, What’s Up Yukon featured a story on Yukon sculptor Harreson Tanner. It spotlighted Tanner’s move to Ontario, only to find he and his
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An Odd Taste in Lawn Decorations
The Klondike is known for permafrost-distorted buildings. The twisted shapes of older structures inspired the artistic career of Jim Robb — as a young artist he
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Didee & Didoo – Cartoon “Trophies”
Sorry Folks No Poem This week
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Busy Weekend in Dawson City
“This weekend is an iconic celebration of what’s great in Dawson,” says Paul Robitaille. Discovery Days, the Riverside Arts Festival & more
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Reflections on Rural Yukon Education
Robert Service School (RSS) celebrated its 25th year in its present building last May. There were no special celebrations, and I suspect that not too
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The Big Gwich’in Gathering
From July 21 to July 25, Old Crow had the distinction of hosting The Biennial Gwich’in Gathering (BGG), an event that began in 1988 in
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The Soul is Back in Dawson City
For those who like to boogey down, Miles from Motown, formerly the Soul Sunday Band, is back in Dawson to make it happen. Every Sunday
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Dawson’s Public Gardens Are A Treat
Dawson has a long history of dressing up with flowers and plants. When Martha Louise Black was the chatelaine at the Commissioner’s Residence on Front
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Didee & Didoo – Cartoon “Calls”
Sorry Folks No Poem This week
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The Collector in Tagish
His name is Douglas Roy Rogers Dupont the 3rd. That’s what he’s known as on the water around Tagish at least. It’s his two-way radio handle.
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Along the Boardwalks in Dawson City
Ask tourists what they like about Dawson City and you get a variety of responses. They like the old buildings and the sense of history
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Morel Hunting
A year after the forest fire, anarchy blooms in the Little Salmon/Carmacks bush. Free-growing morel mushrooms attract transient seasonal workers from all over the world;
Tracking down grandmother by land and water
Nadia White, great-granddaughter of Elmer (Stroller) and Alice Josephine (Josie) Keys White is on a quest to find out all she can about the life
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Why does Dawson Need a Dike?
The Yukon Gold Panning Championships were held on the well-used greensward between Front Street and the dike. The greensward wouldn’t be here if the dike
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Made With Love in the Heart of the Yukon
Making soap is magical; how do all the liquid ingredients turn into a solid bar of soap? Joella Hogan has the answer. She is the
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In Praise of 7th Avenue
In Praise of 7th Avenue It’s not on the way to anywhere. It’s a world removed from the fast food congestion of 2nd and the
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Didee & Didoo – Cartoon “Cake”
Sorry Folks No Poem This Week.
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2014: Atlin Arts and Music Festival
Atlin Arts and Music Festival is an institution. Now in its 11th year, the event draws visitors and performers from across Canada and beyond.
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Grand Times at the Palace
The second full revival season has been launched at the Palace Grand theatre. Marveling at the theatre is past due; It’s time to celebrate that
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How to Dump
It was a Monday evening in June, before solstice. At nine o’clock, the sun was shining hot. Dallas-rae Gaven was reading in her bathhouse-cum-cabin on
Didee & Didoo – Poem “Caribou Legs’
Caribou Legs First he kicked his drug habit now he runs as fast as a rabbit. He runs many miles on mother earth and his
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A Successful Spring
As an Elder, I learned from my past Elders; as a Gwitchin, I live along with the season. Porcupine Caribou is our main source of
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The Evolution of Peter Mather’s Photography
Yukon photographer Peter Mather arrived in Old Crow last spring. He was here to finish a project he’d been working on for three years. For
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Front Street’s Elegant Showcase
The Commissioner’s Residence sits on Front Street, just past St. Paul’s Anglican Church, in Dawson City. It is one of six buildings in town designed
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Didee & Didoo – Poem “Stanley Cup Season”
STANLEY CUP SEASON When it’s Stanley cup season It’s almost like treason. Dougie never misses a playoff and his TV is never off. He turns
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Learning Beyond School: Braeburn Lake Summer Camp offers community, leadership and fun
Summer camp offers a lot to young people that classrooms don’t — canoeing, crafts, campfires, and no homework. However, what sticks out the most for
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Winnowing Word in the Windy City
In windy Skagway, the boat people make their way from the cruise ships into town several times a day, clogging the streets and shops. I
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Didee & Didoo – Poem “Gerald”
His name is Gerald Nukon From Old Crow Yukon. He always says “Hi!” An’ he’s a pretty cool guy. Gerald is such a great lad
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Big Caribou Days Celebration 2014
Move over Victoria Day, there’s another holiday in town. Before all you Queen enthusiasts spill your tea and choke on your crumpets, you will be
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Welcome to the John Tizya Centre
For anyone who finds themselves in Old Crow with time on their hands, I suggest strolling to The John Tizya Centre. It’s “downtown”, just off
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The KVA promotes the Klondike to the world
The Klondike Visitors’ Association (originally the Klondike Travel Bureau) pre-dates the formation of the Yukon’s Department of Tourism (originally the Yukon Tourist Bureau) by over
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Didee & Didoo – Poem “Hope”
HOPE Don’t ever say nope ‘cause there’s always hope. Even if you don’t have soap You’ll always have hope. If you don’t have bug dope
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Jickling’s Jabberings: Monolith Moments
At the beginning of 2001: A Space Odyssey, Stanley Kubrick’s science-fiction classic, the audience is introduced to a group of apes at the exact moment
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Shifting Gears
The Kluane Chilkat International Bike Relay is about to check-off its 22nd year, and organizers are making sure the race adapts to changing times. Mike
Didee & Didoo – Poem “Autobiography”
AUTOBIOGRAPHY – A. BENJAMIN I DON’T LIKE TO WRITE ABOUT MYSELF ‘CAUSE SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE AN ELF. I WAS BORN UP IN OLD CROW
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Didee & Didoo – Poem “Sarah Abel”
Sarah Abel HER NAME IS SARAH ABEL AN’ SHE PRAYED AT THE COMMUNION TABLE. SHE WAS AN OLD CROW RESIDENT AND SHE WAS THE W.A. PRESIDENT SARAH WAS
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Haines Junctions’ Baker Goes Old School
When Dave Thompson found out Boyd Campbell was selling Haines Junction’s Village Bakery and Deli at the end of last summer, Thompson didn’t immediately jump
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Road Ready
When Morgan MacDonald closes his classroom door a few weeks from now, he’ll hit the road-less-travelled to gauge how far an alternate career path might
The George Black Ferry Links the Two Dawsons
The George Black Ferry splashed into the Yukon River shortly after 2:00 p.m. on May 15, bringing to life the summer time link between the
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I Lived to tell the Tale
April 19, 2013 was a beautiful sunny day. I got out of bed and cooked eggs and ham for breakfast. I packed my hunting gear, two
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The tripod met an unusual fate this year
I was in Calgary in the middle of a snowstorm when the ice went out in the Yukon River this year. Two days earlier, it
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Didee & Didoo – Poem “Tour Guide”
Tour Guide When I’m a tour guide I like walking outside. When I show tourists our town We use a wheelbarrow to get around. When
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Didee & Didoo – Poem “Mary Tizya”
Mary Tizya I REALLY LOVE THIS PERSON SHE CAME FROM FT McPHERSON. THEN SHE BECAME ROSS’S WIFE AN’ LIVED IN OLD CROW MOST OF HER
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Kramer of the North
Robert Postma knocks on our door, comes in, and asks me if I have any butter. I say, “Careful with it, it’s like gold to
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Growing Up Gwich’in
Editor’s Note: When Jason Westover visited Elizabeth Kaye recently, he suggested he would love to know more about her life besides her passion for moccasin-making.
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Caribou Boots & Banana Bread
Since moving to Old Crow more than four decades ago Elizabeth (Liz) Kaye has kept a busy and active lifestyle in the community,
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Spring migration means a busy time for birders
The end of April’s Celebration of Swans at Marsh Lake comes at a good time. That’s because at least a hundred other bird species are now
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Talking Points about “Klondike” for our summer visitors
There’s all sorts of misinformation about the Klondike Gold Rush out there. One of the most obvious is that a lot of Americans, other than
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Didee & Didoo – Poem “Just For Today”
Just for Today Yesterday is history an’ tomorrow is a mystery. For yesterday I don’t worry an’ tomorrow I’m not in a hurry. If I
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Tuneful Fun
Beginning next week, Dawson City residents will have something to sing about – literally. The Good Times Community Choir will start up on May 6
Dawson’s reverse speed bumps slow people down
There are lots of places where people tend to drive a little too fast. Some of these places have had various ingenious traffic control systems
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Now Comes the Season of the Tripod
Sometime between now and May 29 (the absolute latest date in the records that have been kept since 1896), the ice in the Yukon River
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The Trouble with Stop-and-Chats
There is an episode on HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm where Larry David is walking down the street with his manager, Jeff. They pass a man who recognizes
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Sharing the Supernatural
If you’ve ever seen a strange light slip across the Yukon sky, or heard a mechanical buzz in the middle of a dark forest, don’t
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Dawson City Runs on Volunteers
I’ve been attending a number of annual general meetings lately, and the experience has simply served to reinforce something that I already knew: without the
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The Arrival of the Swans Means Spring is Near
If you spend time at Marsh Lake’s M’Clintock Bay this week, you may see new visitors. At up to four-and-a-half feet tall, 35 pounds, with
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Next Stop: Old Crow
At the Old Crow Airport Joseph said, “Let’s get on my ski-doo and get the cargo” My face said,“Sure,” my brain “Dude! It’s -40°C”
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Around the world in a weekend
Dawson City International Short Film Festival (DCISFF) started in 2000, Dan Sokolowski has been organizing the festival for eight years.
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Cross-Cultural Advances in Klondike Education
On March 31, the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in (TH) held a feast to remember the mixed-heritage children who came to Dawson City to live at St. Paul’s
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Mystic Mojo
Paranormal is normal. Everybody is psychic — some just a little more than others. That might sound untrue, but one must understand that, if interested,
Didee & Didoo – Cartoon “Hair”
Sorry Folks no poem this week
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Swans Return to Their Second Home
April marks the glorious return of thousands of swans to the M’Clintock Bay area of Marsh Lake. This year is particularly special because it marks
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Dawson’s Streets Get Ready for Spring
Dawson‘s streets will be wider and lower by the time you read this column. There will be the odd large puddle around town, especially at
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A Good Vibe, With Music, Coffee, and Kids
On the first Saturday of every month, Dawson City residents have the opportunity to come together and enjoy an evening of family-friendly fun. Coffee houses
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Didee & Didoo – Cartoon “Love”
Sorry Folks No Poem This Week.
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The Percy de Wolfe Race is Ready To Go
If the buzz around this year’s Percy de Wolfe Memorial Mail Race is any indication, this years’s event may be one to watch. Just how
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The Hollywood Treatment
In Dawson we are of two minds regarding the Discovery Channel’s Klondike mini-series — that six hour reimagining of history, geography and culture that aired
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What Does Klondike Mean to the World?
From the very beginning there’s been some confusion connected with the word “Klondike.” It started with new arrivals — the gold rush stampeders — who
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Didee & Didoo – Poem “Fasting”
FASTING WE ALL NEED TO FAST ‘CAUSE THEY DID IT IN THE PAST. SOMETIMES FOOD I DON’T TOUCH ‘CAUSE I DON’T EAT TOO MUCH. I
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Didee & Didoo – Poem “Culture Camp”
CULTURE CAMP IF YOU GO TO THE CULTURE CAMP YOU WILL FEEL LIKE A CHAMP. IT IS IN AN OUTDOOR SCHOOL BUT IT IS REALLY
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