Powwow Country: Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories

Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories

The Beluga Whale exhibit is just one of many attractions at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, said Kevin Allerston, public affairs officer. The exhibit features the Beaufort Sea population of beluga whales and their importance to Inuvialuit of the arctic coast as well as a model of a life-sized female beluga whale with her one week old calf. The North Gallery also highlights the Kuukpak, an exhibit of over 200 Inuvialuit artifacts, based on excavations completed by Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre staff. These artifacts show how people lived 500 years ago.

Through Her Eyes: Textile Art by Shawna Lampi-Legaree is in the Mezzanine through the summer. Ten large quilted pieces are the highlight and portray society and the world through a woman’s perspective.  Yamoria: the one who travels is in the Feature Gallery. All Dene groups of the Northwest Territories have stories of Yamoria, the legendary Dene traveler and lawmaker, who lived during ancient times when the land (Denendeh) was filled with giant animals that preyed upon people. There are stories from every Dene tribe included in the exhibit: Chipewyan, Tlicho, Yellowknives Dene, South Slavey, North Slavey, and Gwich’in. In the Listening Tipi, Elders from Behchoko and Tulita tell Yamoozha and Yamoria stories in the Tlicho and North Slavey languages. “There are many things from our history up here,” said Allerston.
For more information, check out: www.pwnhc.ca.

Photo Caption: In the Yamoria listening tent the tales Yamoria, the legendary Dene traveler and lawmaker are told.

Photo: Skills Canada and Dave Brosha