Vuntut Gwitchin is the name of people who live in the settlement of Old Crow, Yukon. The name in the Gwich'in language means "people of the lakes". Old Crow is the northernmost Yukon community, located 128 km (80 miles) north of the Arctic Circle at the confluence of the Crow and Porcupine Rivers.
Allan Benjamin Old Crow Cartoonist
Shoo’ii and Sheek’aii cartoons and poems. These new characters will appear in Gwich’in and English. Whenever you see Shoo’ii and Sheek’all you can always be treated to a Gwich’in poem or Allan will simply have some vocabulary to share with you. more
Issue: 2018-06-27, PHOTO: courtesy of Yukon College
Burning one litre of diesel fuel produces about 2.7 kilograms of carbon dioxide. So, for example, Grise Fiord (Ausuittuq), a community of 150 located on the southern shore of Ellesmere Island, in Nunavut, is dependent on burning diesel to provide... more
Issue: 2018-04-11, CARTOON: Allan Benjamin
Jidii Zraii – Black Jidii Dagaii - White Jidii Ditsik - Red Jidii Vee - Grey more
Issue: 2018-02-28, PHOTO: courtesy of Yukon College
Yukon College student Cheyenne Bradley is taking a few minutes between work and class to look after 30,000 newborns. “Sometimes I call them my babies — we get them when they’re eggs and we basically raise them,” she said... more
Issue: 2018-01-31, Cartoon: Allan Benjamin
Ke’ehdài’ Goginjik. Words of Yesterday. Juk drin gatr’igiikhii. Spoken today. more
Issue: 2016-02-25, PHOTO: Dan Davidson
This week shaped up to be a culturally ambitious one in Dawson City. The centerpiece of the week has been the Myth and Medium conference organized by the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in’s Heritage Department and focusing on the performing arts. It’s not too... more
Issue: 2016-01-21, Cartoon: Allan Benjamin
WHEN I MENTION MY GYM IT DOESN’T HAVE A BASKETBALL RIM. MY GYM IS THE GREAT OUTDOORS I SHARE IT WITH ANIMALS ON ALL FOURS. more
Issue: 2015-11-05 PHOTO: Robert Postma
Climate change in the North makes many changes to the growth of our plants, and confuses our animals with more wind, rain and fog. It also affects the river levels. They are constantly rising and dropping, resulting in fishnets needing to be taken... more
Issue: 2015-10-08 PHOTO: courtesy of Dr. Xiu-Mei Zhang
It’s been a month and a half since the Traditional Chinese Medical practitioner Jim Zheng passed away. Those who he helped will remember him fondly, and those who depended on him to help manage ailments will be wondering how to manage the void he... more
Issue: 2015-07-23 PHOTO: Allan Benjamin
SHE WAS AS TOUGH AS ROCKS MY GREAT GRANDMA MARGARET BLACKFOX. SHE WAS THE TOUGHEST GWICHIN ‘CAUSE ANY RACE SHE CAN WIN. DIDOO DOESN’T LIKE TO SIT THAT’S HOW COME SHE’S FIT. more
Issue: 2015-06-11 PHOTO: Allan Benjamin
WINTER IS FINALLY GONE IT’S GREAT TO SEE A SWAN. IT’S THAT TIME OF THE YEAR WHEN WE’LL SEE A BEAR. IT’S NICE TO SEE THE BIRDS AND THE CARIBOU HERDS. more
Issue: 2015-04-02 PHOTO: Allan Benjamin
Gwichin lived a nomadic life using stone axe an’ bone knife. They lived in caribou skin tents an’ Gwichins made caribou fence. In winter they ran on snowshoes In summer they paddled rat canoes. more
June 2014
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 food more
Photo by Robert Postma
As a Gwich’in child I lived a nomadic lifestyle in the Northwest Territories since a child. My parents were elderly, truly living with the season. The only life they know which naturally were passed on. more
Tammy Lee Josie was literally pushed onto the stage at 14 years old. She was watching her grandmother, Edith Josie, perform her family's Vuntut Gwitchin stories at the Yukon International Storytelling Festival in 1998 when festival coordinator Louise more
At the risk of losing my passport, and the friendship of obsessives such as George Maratos, I confess: my all-Canadian heart has never skipped a beat over the great Canadian pastime. I don't love hockey. I don't hate hockey ... more
A close look at goths who ride Winnipeg buses, an animation about Yukon sledding, and films about climate change will appear among more than 100 short films that will screen in Dawson City from April 21 to 24 more
Who among us hasn't, at one time or another, gazed upon a bird in flight and marvelled at it ... or even wondered what it would be like to fly? Ducks Unlimited calls us to do more than just wonder ... more
The big day was November fourth, when the Olympic Torch came North. It came up to Old Crow, where the torch did glow. Showshoeing is my traditional sport, so I carried the torch from the airport. more