Publications
The Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in and the Great Upheaval: Mining, Colonialism, and Environmental Change in the Klondike, 1890-1940
Gold mining during the Klondike Gold Rush (1890–1940) initiated long-term systemic alienation of the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in from their traditional lands and resources, driven by both environmental degradation and colonial bureaucratic interventions. The study reveals that placer and dredge mining not only transformed the Klondike landscape but also disrupted Indigenous resource access through state-imposed land-use policies that prioritized colonial practices over local traditions. While colonial administration was often contested among external authorities, Indigenous Yukoners actively resisted displacement and challenged imposed changes, shaping the complex dynamics of colonization in the region. This work highlights the dual impact of mining—physical environmental alteration and bureaucratic marginalization—as key drivers of Indigenous displacement.
Our land is our voice: First Nation heritage-making in the Tr’ondëk/Klondike
First Nations communities, such as the Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in of northwestern Canada, have employed heritage-making strategies to assert territorial sovereignty and preserve cultural identity amid settler colonialism. This study highlights how the Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in, through treaty advocacy, cultural expression, and support for residential school survivors, have resisted Western heritage narratives while adapting their own traditions. The research demonstrates that continuous heritage-making enables Indigenous communities to navigate modernity while maintaining autonomy and identity. Approaches included analyzing historical records, interviews, and cultural instruments developed by the community.
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