Whitehorse Local Customs

If you've read any of my pages, you know I like to try the local beer. It could have the worst reputation in the world and I'd still try it. Fortunately, the Yukon Brewing Company makes great beer. Shirts say, "Beer worth freezin' for" and it's true:) The one we tried was Yukon Gold which is pretty good--it has a unique taste which is uncommon for smaller breweries. Sometimes you try them and you think one place makes it in a central location and adds different labels (and this happens--particularly with restaurants who claim to have their own beer) but this has a distinct flavor I don't believe can be copied.
It's served widely around Whitehorse (as it's brewed and bottled there) and according to their website, across Canada and into the US but I haven't seen it anywhere else. Need to look harder, I guess...
Their website is VERY funny and reflects the humor we came across in the Yukon...take a look.

On my trip to Haines Junction we did get to see some odd sites, so I included them under local customs and tips. I have no explanations, I am sorry but they were enjoyable to come across!

Out of respect this shouldn't be considered an oddity I guess but this is a native cemetary and the houses apparently provide a home for the person's soul! Interesting....

On my trip to Haines Junction we did get to see some odd sites, so I included them under local customs and tips. I have no explanations, I am sorry but they were enjoyable to come across!

If you were wondering who stole your hub caps, it might have been this guy?

On my trip to Haines Junction we did get to see some odd sites, so I included them under local customs and tips. I have no explanations, I am sorry but they were enjoyable to come across!

Seen here are a small village's set of rules!

For Aboriginal people, their close links to the land are crucial to their cultural identity. Land claim settlements recognize the Yukon's First Nations as separate levels of government working with the governments of Yukon and Canada. Yukon's First Nations rely on wisdom and experience of their elders to draw from tradition and direct their paths into the future.
Two Yukon First Nations have their traditional lands in the Whitehorse area - the Taa'an Kwächän and the Kwanlin Dün. The Southern Tutchone names for these people reflect their ties to the land. Taa'an means "head of the lake," referring to Lake Laberge, while Kwanlin means "water running through a narrow place," describing the turbulent waters of Miles Canyon and Whitehorse Rapids.
For centuries the Southern Tutchone had strong trade and family ties with groups from all over the Yukon and the Alaska panhandle. In 1898, their lives changed radically. According to one elder, the Klondike gold rush brought "so many white people, there was like water running all the rime."

You will often notice a hanging bell by the bar at local drinking establishments. Be aware that if you choose to ring this bell, you'll be expected to buy a round for the house. And yes, it does happen "on purpose" as well.

Whitehorse has a large population of native Canadians. I was lucky enough to meet several groups, and learned alot of their culture and beliefs. Elders are always treated with reverence, and are always looked after first. I met a friend Cheryl while volunteering at the Whitehorse Storytelling Festival, and although I only knew her for around a week after that, she invited me to her house to stay with her and her kids for the rest of the summer. Here's a picture of three of her kids, Rachel, Elizabeth and Greg.

The Yukon is unique and is a part of Canada but should not be taken as a representative of Canada- hotels will often not have tvs or phones in the rooms, and do not expect email service etc wherever you go! Grocery stores are rare and not big outside of Whitehorse but this is simply because they are unnecessary. The Yukon is home to 30,000 people spread over a great distance and some parts can be very remote. Although some everyday conveniences are lacking in the Yukon, does not mean that they are lacking in the rest of Canada and take advantage of this! (This is a building on Third Avenue in Dawson and is quite famous, but hey most Canadians do not live in places like this and we do not live in igloos!)
An additional interesting tip for die hard Coke fans. Pepsi generally has a monopoly in the territory and Coke is not found outside of Whitehorse- only Pepsi products, so be prepared.