Allan Benjamin is a poet, a cartoonist, a fiddle player and a snow shoe racer from Old Crow, Yukon. Allan is a Vuntut Gwich'in artist who provides cartoons and poems to What's Up Yukon. He introduces us to two sets of characters who represent Allan's family and traditional Gwich'in life growing up in Old Crow.
The fiddling tradition is alive and well in the Yukon thanks to the Fiddleheads, a group of young fiddlers ranging in age from seven to fourteen years old. The local youth fiddle club is teaming up with groups in Haines Junction and Dawson City to...more
Looking for healthy-living inspiration? Turn your gaze from younger athletes and movie stars toward the golden generation - 55 might just be the new 20.
Just ask the 97 Yukoners aged 55 to 91 who will be participating in the 2016 Canada 55+ Games...more
We don’t have a store so we’re really poor. We can’t even shop ‘cause they came to a stop. We could even die because we can’t buy. We can’t eat money and that’s not funny. Even if we have cash it’s as good as trash.more
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, Allan Benjamin. It depicts a humourous take on the life of two Gwitchin elders.more
Shortly after setting up camp in my adolescent bedroom, I learned about What’s Up Yukon. I emailed then-editor Darrell Hookey — with a couple of attachments demonstrating my writing prowess — and mentioned I was interested in “editorial work.”more
Old Crow poet and cartoonist Allan Benjamin caught himself when he said he carries a pen and paper in his pocket 24 hours a day.
"Actually, it's pencil. A pen freezes." Not something you want to happen out on the Flats when inspiration strikes.more
With not one, but two new editors now in harness at What's Up Yukon, our loyal readers may be wondering what that means and how their magazine might be changing.more
‘Cause I can use my bass fiddle for a canoe.
‘Cause I can use my fiddle for a paddle.
‘Cause I can use my fiddle strings for snares.
‘Cause I can use my fiddle bow for a cane.more
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
’Cause I remembered William Chitze (Fort McPherson).
’Cause I remembered Belle Herbert (Chalkyitsik).
’Cause I remembered Rev. James & Sarah Simon (Fort McPherson).
’Cause I remembered S/CST Thomas NJootli (Aklavik).more
Harold Frost play fiddle for New Year’s dance.
Some people came from Ft. McPherson with ski-doos.
Everyone had fun at the Father Mouchet Ski Loppet.
Rick Nielsen flew some of us out to Crow Flats.more
Chiitaii drin díinzhít – It’s a long day
Chiitaii drin goo’aii – It is light outside
Chiitaii yahkèe – It is dawn
Et’ee sreendit nigwìizhit – It is spring timemore
We don’t pack water anymore.
We don’t vote with our hands anymore.
They don’t sign their names with an “X” anymore.
We don’t buy from the Trading Post anymore.more
