Haines Junction

The Champagne and Aishihik First Nation Peoples of Haines Junction

Champagne and Aishihik First Nations

We are the Shadhäla, Äshèyi yè kwädän (Champagne and Aishihik First Nations or CAFN). Our name derives from two of our historic settlements: Shadhäla (Champagne), on the Dezadeash River; and Äshèyi (Aishihik), at the Alsek River headwaters. CAFN has more than 1,200 Dän – this means “person” in Dákwanjè (Southern Tutchone), our traditional language. Landscape features in our country have both Dákwanjè and Tlingit names, with the latter being the language of trade during the 18th and 19th centuries. Many citizens also have Tlingit ancestral connections.

Dághāłan (family) is the heart of our culture and way of life. In kwädąy (traditional) times, families worked together to provide for themselves with everyone contributing. Children grew up with and were taught by their grandparents and extended family members.

Our clan system, which is central to our identity and belonging, keeps us connected as a community. We have two clans: Käjèt (Crow) and Agunda (Wolf), with nakwat’a (potlatches) hosted by one of the clans and featuring a feast to honour a person, event or achievement.

Our Dän and Tlingit customs and traditions connect our past, present and future generations. After decades of difficult times, our culture is coming alive again – in the same way that the land comes alive each spring. Come learn about the reawakening of our culture!

Tsür Khęn (woodpecker Song)

Our traditional teachings say that noisy tsür khęla (woodpecker) “wakes up the land” each spring. The tapping of the drumstick on the wooden drum rim mimics the woodpecker and marks the beginning and end of this lively song.

Tsür Khęla Khęȩn – Woodpecker Song
hey hee ya ho hey, hey hee ya ho hey
hey hee ya ho hey, Tsür khęla nàkwatʼāla
hey hee ya ho hey, hey hee ya ho hey
hey hee ya ho hey, Dákeyį ts’an kwànájala
hee ya ho hey hey, hee ya ho hey
hey hee ya ho hey, Dáyenji shäwkwathana

Wood-pecker an invitation
Our-country to all-to-come
Our-minds are very-good
(We’re going to have a gathering)
(We’re very happy)

To listen to the song, visit cafn.ca/woodpecker-song. To honour the reawakening of our culture, Dákwanjè speakers worked with the Dakwakada Dancers to create the woodpecker khęn (song).