Dawson arts and culture building gets new Hn language name

The building that houses the Klondike Institute of Art and Culture (KIAC) in Dawson City, Yukon, now has a new name in the Hn language.

The Tr'ondk Hwch'inelders council chose the new name, Dnkr Zho, which means a house of mixed colours.

"I thought it was very fitting," said Georgette McLeod, a Hn language administrator with the Tr'ondk Hwch'in. "It also kind of speaks back to the building and the programs being inclusive of anyone, whether [their] gender or age or cultural background."

The building hadbeen known as the Odd Fellows Hall, which was originally built by the Odd Fellows Fraternity in 1901. In the late '90s it was refurbished by Dawson's then-fledgling Institute of Art and Culture.

"The elders council approved this name because it was a fun way of describing art and culture, as colourful," said the institute's executive director, Marie-Claire Findlay-Brook.

KIAC and the Tr'ondk Hwch'in held a ceremony Thursday night to celebrate the new name, which has been in the works for a few years. Findlay-Brook called the celebration "positive," adding that it's about more than just the name, it's also a commitment to do better.

"It was just incredibly encouraging and I feel like this new nameDnkr Zho will inspire us and encourage us and just to be a tighter and more responsible community."

McLeod said the new name is an "exciting step forward for the language."

"I think it's wonderful to have another name up on the building because it really shows the presence of the language," she said.

"I think the Hn name helps to reflect that inclusion of all of our community members."

McLeod said the First Nation is seeing more and more organizations and governments slowly stepping up to include Indigenous languages.

"I hope they take it one step further and actually use it on a daily basis as part of their conversations," she said.