Teslin, Yukon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Teslin Desleen
Village
Village of Teslin
Southeast Teslin
Teslin Location in Yukon Show map of Yukon Teslin Location in Canada Show map of Canada
Country	Canada
Territory	Yukon
Time zone	UTC−07:00 (MST)

Teslin (pronounced TESS-lin) is a small community in Yukon, Canada. Its name comes from the Tlingit word "Teslintoo." Teslin is located right next to Teslin Lake on the famous Alaska Highway. It's about 804 miles (1,294 km) along this highway.

A long time ago, in 1903, a trading post called Teslin Post was set up here by the Hudson's Bay Company. Today, Teslin is home to the Teslin Inland Tlingit First Nations people. Many people in Teslin still live by traditional ways. This includes hunting, trapping, and fishing. Teslin has one of the largest populations of Indigenous people in Yukon.

How Many People Live in Teslin?

Teslin is a small but growing village. In the 2021 Census, 239 people lived here. This number was a bit higher than in 2016. The village covers an area of about 3.77 square kilometers (1.46 square miles).

Teslin's Culture and History

Teslin's culture is very rich, especially among the Inland Tlingit people. Their society is divided into two main groups, called moieties: the Wolf and the Crow.

• The Wolf moiety includes the Eagle (Dakhl'awedi') and Wolf (Yanyedi) clans.
• The Crow moiety includes the Raven's Children (Kukhhittan or Crow), Frog (Ishkitan), and Split Tail Beaver (Deshitan) clans.

In the Tlingit culture, children belong to their mother's clan. This means their family line is traced through the mother.

George Johnston: The Teslin Taxi Man

One famous person from Teslin was George Johnston (trapper) (1884–1972). He was a trapper and a photographer. He took many pictures between 1910 and 1940. These photos show what life was like for the Tlingit people in Teslin and nearby Atlin.

George Johnston also brought the very first car to Teslin! It was a 1928 Chevrolet. The Alaska Highway wasn't built yet, so he made his own road. It was about 3 to 5 miles (5 to 8 km) long. He used this road for his "Teslin taxi" service. In winter, he would put chains on the tires, paint the car white, and drive it on the frozen Teslin Lake! You can see his restored 1928 Chevy today. It's on display at the George Johnston Museum in Teslin.

Teslin's Climate

Teslin has a type of climate called a dry-summer subarctic climate. This means summers are mild, with cool nights. Winters are cold and snowy. On average, about 148.4 centimeters (58.4 inches) of snow falls each year. Teslin is actually one of the warmer places in the Yukon. The average temperature for the whole year is about -0.6 degrees Celsius (30.9 degrees Fahrenheit).

Gallery

Famous People from Teslin

• Marian Horne (born 1943): She is a politician from the Yukon Party. In 2006, she became a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA). She also served as the Minister of Justice and the Minister responsible for the Women's Directorate in the Yukon.
• Sam Johnston (Yukon politician): He is a respected Tlingit elder and a former politician. He was also the chancellor of Yukon College. He is a member of the Order of Yukon, which is a special honor.