The federal government and the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in have invested in an important space for cultural conservation and knowledge sharing.
The investment of more than $25.6 million will result in a heritage complex in Dawson City that will provide a community space for records preservation and archiving, as well as cultural and language programming.
This vital facility will provide the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in with a space to connect with their heritage and ensure that community members maintain connections to traditional knowledge and the land for years.
Once built, the complex will feature an oral history recording studio, a library, classrooms, and archives. Community members and visitors will be able to use this space to gather, learn, and connect with Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in culture and history.
The building will be designed to meet net-zero carbon performance standards and withstand and adapt to melting permafrost. A flood wall will also be installed to redirect any potential flood water around the building, mitigating risk from the Yukon River.
The federal government is investing $24,998,300 in this project through the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings (GICB) program. Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in is contributing $672,532.80. This program launched in 2021 with an initial investment of $1.5 billion over five years in green and accessible retrofits, repairs, and upgrades.
