Page 105 - Vacation Country Travel Guide

trails. The Burwash Landing/Destruction Bay area
is the home of the Southern Tutchone people of the
Kluane First Nation, of the Athabaskan linguistic
group. For thousands of years, the Southern
Tutchone people lived year round in the Kluane
Lake area on the abundant fish and game.
The present site of Burwash Landing was a
summer gathering place. After a trading post was
built in the early 1900s, the First Nations people
moved close to the post and began to live a less
nomadic life. The site was made the administrative
centre for the Kluane area when the Alaska
Highway was built.
The establishment of Kluane National Park in the
southwest corner of the Yukon Territory, bordered
by Kluane Lake and the Alaska and Haines
highways, created hardship for the First Nations
people of the area. Left with only a narrow margin
of land along the western shores of Kluane Lake,
a significant portion of their hunting and trapping
livelihood was lost, forcing increased reliance on
fishing to make a living from the land.
Today, the Kluane First Nation people (KFN) of
Burwash Landing carry on the traditional ways of
life of their ancestors. They have actively revived
their language, culture and traditions. Education Sheep along the Alaska Hwy
has been a priority of the KFN. Secondary and photo by:
post-secondary education for members of the VC Travel Guide
First Nation is actively supported, and Burwash
Landing is the site of the first school in the Yukon
administered by a First Nations group. The KFN
provides education, housing and municipal
services to its membership as well as health care
and social services, economic development and
capital projects programs. The KFN also owns the
Dalan campground.
The Kluane Museum of Natural History is
the community’s best-known tourist attraction,
featuring excellent wildlife displays, exhibits of
Yukon minerals and Native artifacts, and a gift
shop with a large selection of local First Nation
handicrafts.
A variety of travel services are offered, including
lodging, camping, food and gas.
Mile 1169 White River
Location: Milepost 1169 on Alaska Highway 1.

Located just east of the large bridge over the
White River and adjacent to Kluane Park Preserve, Beaver Creek Visitor Centre
Discovery Yukon Lodgings and RV Park offers photo by:
VC Travel Guide
cabins, suites, full service RV and tenting sites in
addition to a variety of outdoor activities, including
guided botanical and wildlife tours.
Mile 1202 Beaver Creek
Location: Milepost 1202 on Alaska Highway 1.
Population: approximately 125.

This westernmost community in Canada is a natural
highway stopping point, offering walking, biking and
hiking trails, camping, a variety of travel services
and interesting historical displays. The community
has developed a kiosk area with interpretive signs
devoted to Yukon Centennials, the First Nations and
history of Beaver Creek. Beaver Creek is home to
the White River First Nation and Northern Tutchone.
Tourism Yukon operates a Visitor Reception
Center which is open daily May through September.
Even though the community is small, Beaver Creek
offers great lodging and food. A special atmosphere Beaver Creek Historic Mile 1202
has existed here for years and will capture every photo by:
tourist who visits Beaver Creek. Stop in and see how VC Travel Guide
much fun this community can be.
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