Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre builds 'culture cabins'
Director hopes cabins will be ready by National Aboriginal Day on Jun. 21
The sound of construction can be heard on the waterfront behind the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre in Whitehorse as three small huts are being built.
They're not tiny homes, but rather "culture cabins" that will serve as demonstration spaces for artists working on traditional crafts.
Tracy McPhee, executive director of the centre, says artists will be able to use the huts for varying lengths of time, from one day to perhaps an entire summer. She thinks the live demonstrations will be popular with visitors.
"We often have visitors and members of the community that come here and are very excited to see actual artists at work or elders demonstrating traditional pursuits, whether it be beading work or whether it be carving," she says.
McPhee says the plan is to unveil the huts during National Aboriginal Day celebrations on Jun. 21.
Off grid, historical design
The cabins will be powered by the sun, with a solar panel awning. McPhee says this may provide an educational opportunity to demonstrate the use of solar panels.
A log facade will reflect the kinds of buildings that originally occupied the Whitehorse waterfront, says McPhee.
The cabins are part of the centre's overall "waterfront village" concept. In April, the centre received $80,700 from the Yukon government's Community Development Fund to build the huts, add aesthetic fencing and plan the expansion of its sacred and medicinal gardens.