Le centre du patrimoine Teslin Tlingit : clans, canots et sculpture
Mâts totémiques, cinq clans et culture tlingit de l’intérieur au bord du lac Teslin.
On the shore of Teslin Lake, along the Alaska Highway southeast of Whitehorse, the Teslin Tlingit Heritage Centre offers one of the Yukon’s richest windows into a living First Nations culture. The Inland Tlingit of Teslin have their own distinct language, art, and clan system, and the centre shares it generously with respectful visitors.
The five clans
Teslin Tlingit society is organised into five clans — Kùkhhittàn, Ishkeetàn, Yanyèdi, Dēshitan, and Dakhl’awèdi — each represented by carved totem poles at the centre. Understanding the clan system is key to understanding Tlingit governance, kinship, and art, and the centre’s displays and guides explain it clearly.
Art and carving
The centre houses hand-carved canoes, regalia, clan crests, and traditional artwork, and an active carving shed keeps the skills alive. Watching or learning about the carving of a canoe or a pole connects the art you see to the people making it today.
Visiting
Located right on the highway in Teslin, the centre makes a rewarding stop on a road trip between Whitehorse and Watson Lake or the BC border. Check seasonal hours (it’s busiest in summer), allow time for the exhibits and any performances, and approach the culture as a guest and learner.
Why it matters
Far from a static museum, the Teslin Tlingit Heritage Centre is a place where a distinct northern culture actively teaches and celebrates itself. Stopping here turns a drive along the Alaska Highway into a genuine encounter with the people whose home this has always been.