Ryan Carter

Old Crow, Yukon

Within the Arctic Circle lies Old Crow, a small and remote, Vuntut Gwitchin First Nations community of 300 people, who as hunters have traditionally relied on migrating caribou.

Due to prohibitive cost of food in the Arctic, the majority of the settlement’s population – in spite of employment – still depend on the caribou for sustenance.

Yearly, the porcupine caribou migrate through the community in spring and fall seasons, traveling to the their calving grounds on 1002 lands – a coastal region of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

The 1002 lands is a section of land within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge that is being explored for natural resources, primarily oil and is open to development.

While the effects of this potential development, on the caribou herd are still under debate, 15 remote First Nations communities in Alaska, US, and the Yukon and North West Territories, Canada remain dependent on the porcupine caribou for subsistence.

* produced while on assignment for Canadian Geographic and Yukon Tourism

James Itsi, pulls in his fish net from the Porcupine River at his fish camp, down river.The catch is primarily Chum Salmon or "Dog Salmon" most of which is dried, or smoked and fed to the dogs through the winter.September 13, 2007Porcupine River, Yukon Territory, Canada.
   
James Itsi displays a King Salmon after pulling in his fish net from the Porcupine River at his fish camp, down river.The catch is primarily Chum Salmon or "Dog Salmon" most of which is dried, or smoked and fed to the dogs through the winter.September 13, 2007Porcupine River, Yukon Territory, Canada.
   
Two caribou hides sit on the front of Esau Schafer's boat after a successful hunt up river with his grandson, Nathaniel.September 15, 2007Porcupine River, Yukon Territory, Canada.
     
  
A resident steps into a truck after returning from a river trip, collecting wood and caribou.September 16, 2007.Old Crow, Yukon Territory, Canada.
   
Dogs run through the streets of town, on route to James Itsi's boat which will transport them to his hunt camp down the Porcupine river. September 16, 2007.Old Crow, Yukon Territory, Canada.
   
Principal, Vaino Ilmari Latvala drives into town. Many houses have the windows boarded up or broken, due to a particularly disruptive summer, where two youths were breaking and entering, and smashing windows. The youths have since be removed from the community, and the vandalism has stopped.September 13, 2007Old Crow, Yukon Territory, Canada.
     
  
Allan Benjamin, 50, plays the fiddle in his daughters house. Fiddle playing and square dancing are long standing traditions in Old Crow. This past summer they hosted the first "Old Crow Fiddle Festival" a two day event attracting fiddle players from neighboring communities.September 15, 2007.Old Crow, Yukon Territory, Canada.
   
Edith Josie, 85, speaks of life.September 20, 2007Old Crow, Yukon Territory, Canada.
   
Mary Jane Moses, sings a hymns in the traditional Vuntut Gwitchin language at St. Luke's Anglican Church. September 16, 2007Old Crow, Yukon Territory, Canada.
     
  
James Itsi, smokes Chum Salmon or "Dog Salmon" in a shed behind his house, all of which will be used as dog feed over the winter. September 13, 2007Old Crow, Yukon Territory, Canada.
   
Ida Tizya, prepares dry caribou meat.Often after a caribou is harvested a good portion of the meet will be sliced thin, and hung on wood in a warm house or cabin, a couple days later the meat is dried and cured which allows it to be keep at room temperature for many months.September 23, 2007Old Crow, Yukon Territory, Canada.
   
Former Chief, 1972 to 1976, John Joe Kaye (or Kyikavichik), 83, sits for a portrait.September 20, 2007Old Crow, Yukon Territory, Canada.
     
  
(left to right) Chief, Joe Linklater, Executive Assistant to the Premier, Sheila Clark, Premier of the Yukon Territory, Dennis Fentie, and Premier's Chief of Staff, Dale Drown speak to the community at the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation, General Assembly. September 21, 2007Old Crow, Yukon Territory, Canada.
   
Allan Benjamin, 50, with a collection of caribou and moose antlers. September 15, 2007Old Crow, Yukon Territory, Canada.
   
Ida Tizya speaks on the phone. September 14, 2007.Old Crow, Yukon Territory, Canada.
     
  
David Maxwell, speaks on the phone between watching a Discovery Channel show on Jesus. September 19, 2007Old Crow, Yukon Territory, Canada.