Carcross/Tagish First Nation unveils totem poles in Bennett, B.C.

The Carcross/Tagish First Nation’s totem pole unveiling expands cultural representation on the Chilkoot Trail. On Friday, the Carcross/Tagish First Nation (C/TFN) in the Yukon unveiled two new totem poles at the base of the Chilkoot Trail in Bennett, B.C. Sean McDougall, acting executive director, said the project was developed through a partnership between C/TFN and Parks Canada after they observed the trail lacked representation of the land’s cultural and historical significance for Tagish and Tlingit people. McDougall described the area as home used for generations for hunting, fishing, and trading. Oliver Clark, a Parks Canada visitor experience manager, said the poles acknowledge the gold rush as a disruptive event for First Nations peoples. Lead carver Keith Wolfe Smarch said the design reflects balance between wolf and raven moieties, with a man and woman at the top, and added that C/TFN hopes to install plaque markers along the trail.