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Carcross/Tagish First Nation Unveils Totems at Chilkoot Trail Trailhead
The cedar poles honor the raven and wolf clans and mark a push to tell the trail’s full Indigenous history, officials said.
- On Friday, the Carcross/Tagish First Nation unveiled two carved cedar totems at the Bennett trailhead of the 53-kilometre Chilkoot Trail, marking a permanent reminder of First Nations history beyond the 1890s gold rush.
- Sean McDougall, acting executive director for the Carcross/Tagish First Nation, said talks with Parks Canada about installing the poles have spanned years, aiming to rebrand the trail by "telling the complete history."
- Renowned carver Keith Wolfe Smarch spent six months creating the poles featuring a wolf and raven to represent First Nations people; his work is held in King Charles's private collection.
- McDougall described the Chilkoot Trail as "one of the main bloodlines" for the Tlingit and Tagish people, originally serving as a vital trade route for food and medicine connecting coastal and Interior relatives.
- While the trail gained fame during the Klondike gold rush, McDougall noted his great uncle Keish—also known as Skookum Jim—was among those who first discovered the gold, anchoring First Nations presence in the narrative.
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26 Articles
The Toronto Star+5 Reposted by 5 other sources
Beyond the gold rush: Totem poles at the Chilkoot Trail mark route’s long history
Two carved cedar totems now flank either side of the Canadian end of the Chilkoot Trail, a permanent reminder that the route best known as the path to the Yukon
·Toronto, Canada
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Winnipeg Free Press+19 Reposted by 19 other sources
Beyond the gold rush: Totem poles at the Chilkoot Trail mark route's long history
Two carved cedar totems now flank either side of the Canadian end of the Chilkoot Trail, a permanent reminder that the route best known as the path to the Yukon gold fields during the 1890s gold rush has a history that stretches back much further.
·Winnipeg, Canada
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources26
Leaning Left17Leaning Right0Center5Last UpdatedBias Distribution77% Left
Bias Distribution
- 77% of the sources lean Left
77% Left
L 77%
C 23%
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