Selkirk First Nation facts for kids

The Selkirk First Nation, also known as the Hucha Hudan people, is a group of Indigenous people who live in the Yukon, a territory in Canada. They are a self-governing First Nation, which means they make their own decisions about their community and land, much like a small country or state.

Their original home was a trading post called Fort Selkirk along the Yukon River. Today, most members of the Selkirk First Nation live in Pelly Crossing, where the Klondike Highway crosses the Pelly River.

The language spoken by the Selkirk people is called Northern Tutchone. There's a big effort to keep this language and their culture alive. A famous person who helped with this was Jerry Alfred, known as the "Keeper of the Songs."

Governing Themselves: The Land Claims Agreement

The Selkirk First Nation signed a special agreement in 1997 called the Yukon Land Claims agreement. This agreement is very important because it officially recognizes their rights to their traditional lands and allows them to govern themselves. It means they have more control over things like their land, resources, education, and culture, helping them build a strong future for their community.