Kwanlin Dün First Nation Playground Unveiled

Monday, 27 May 2019 16:06

A celebration occurred today for a new recently unveiled playground by the Kwanlin Dün First Nation along McIntyre Drive in Whitehorse.

Over $177,000 was funded towards the creation of the project, with the majority of money coming from the Government of Yukon’s Community Development Fund.

Before the ribbon cutting occurred, children from the Dusk'a Head Start Family Learning Centre drummed to the performance of a traditional song sung by Councillor Sean Smith to celebrate the occasion.

Kwanlin Dun First Nation Chief Dorris Bill says it was a community effort to make the opening of the playground possible.

"It wouldn't have been possible without Yukon Government's assistance. I want to thank them very much. I also want to thank the people who made this possible, like Roxanne Vallevand, and the person who helped to push this forward, Jeanie Dendy's. I also want to thank the Kwanlin Dun Labourers who helped install this."

Chief Bill says the Dunena Natwats'aye playground, which translates to "Children Play" in the Southern Tutchone language, was a collaborative process involving the children.

"We wen't through a process of community meetings, we displayed various type of potential playground and they chose this one. The name was also chosen by the children who attend the Dusk'a Head Start Family Learning Centre."

Councillor Smith says Southern Tutchone Elders helped in the making of the name.

To wrap things up, Smith also highlighted how it was important to incorporate Southern Tutchone on more prominent community structures like the unveiled playground to help continue the role of language revitalization in the community.

According to the City of Whitehorse's website, there are now over thirty playgrounds available for children in the Whitehorse area.

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