The Vuntut Gwitchin Flashcards
Where do the Vuntut Gwitchin live and where is it located?
They live in Old Crow Flats, 73km north of the artic circle and 110km south of the Beaufort sea
What is the average daily temperature on the Old Crow Flats in the summer and winter, and what is the mean precipitation?
Summer average temp- 15 degrees
Winter average temp- -35 degrees
Average annual precipitation 200mm
How big and at what elevation is the Old Crow Flats?
It is 5000km^2 and at an elevation of 300m
How could the Old Crow Flats be described?
As a pristine wilderness
In 2008 what was the population of Old Crow?
267
Where is Old Crow situated?
On the porcupine river, in the north of the Yukon
The Yukon cannot be reached by car, what can it be reached by?
Old Crow Airport
What is the northernmost portion of the Crow Flats located in?
The Vuntut National Park
What does each Gwitchin family refer to their patch of land as?
‘Their’ or ‘my country’
What do the Gwitchin hunt in ‘their country’?
Muskrat
What animal are the Gwitchin dependent on?
The Porcupine Caribou
Where does the Porcupine Caribou herd migrate to?
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
What do the Gwitchin use Porcupine Caribou for?
Food and clothing
How long has the Porcupine Caribou herd been an important part of the Yukon’s natural environment?
Thousands of years
What are the Gwitchin dependent on the Porcupine Caribou for?
The survival of their culture
What times of year do the Porcupine Caribou herd move through Old Crow?
Spring and Autumn
Why have Caribou numbers fallen in recent years?
- Higher snow falls making it harder for the Caribou to reach mosses and lichens
- Warmer summer temperatures mean the herd is harassed by mosquitoes, disrupting feeding
Name 3 big changes in the lives of the Vuntut Gwitchin
- They’re no longer nomadic
- They now use snowmobiles rather than dog sleighs
- They now use hunting rifles instead of spears and arrows
What are there jobs available in, in Old Crow?
Administration, policing, social services, water and fuel delivery, health and education
A government run quarry opened in 2003, what is the gravel used for?
Local construction
How is Old crow’s population disproportionate?
There’s many more old people than young people as those of working age migrate away to look for paid employment
What do the Gwitchin believe is threatening the Porcupine Caribou?
Oil Drilling in the ANWR, they’ve been lobbying hard to prevent it
