Department of Tourism and Culture

First Nations Heritage Program

The First Nations Heritage Officer carries out work within the Museums Unit, Cultural Services Branch. This position provides support, resources and technical assistance to museums, Yukon First nations cultural/heritage centres and organizations.

The First Nations Heritage Officer assists in the development and support ofprograms such as training workshops, and on the job training of First Nations heritage workers. In addition, the Museums Unit provides funding support for First Nation cultural heritage centers.

This position works with outside resources such as the Canadian Heritage Information Network, Canadian Conservation Institute, Cultural Human Resource Council, and the British Columbia Museums Association to gather information to relay to museums and cultural/heritage centers. The First Nations Heritage Officer is also actively involved in the Searching for Our Heritage project delivering presentations to Elders, heritage staff in the communities and other interested parties.

The Searching for Our Heritage project locates artifacts and natural history collections housed in institutions around the world that originated in Yukon. This project helps track and find these collections that were removed from Yukon.

Tracking and finding these artifacts brings a lost legacy home to those eager to rediscover a cultural identity that is invaluable to their holistic well-being. Aboriginal artifacts reconnect individuals with their environment, attesting to the meaning of the artifact which then can be incorporated into the contemporary world.

Contact

First Nations Heritage Officer
Department of Tourism & Culture
Government of Yukon
Box 2703
Whitehorse, Yukon
Canada Y1A 2C6

Kelly Johnston
Phone: (867) 667-8905
Toll free (In Yukon): 1-800-661-0408 ext. 8905
mailto:kelly.johnston@gov.yk.ca