Nacho Nyäk Dun aims to preserve historic Yukon trading post
'There's a certain spirit of the place,' says long-time Lansing Post trapper
A historic Yukon fur trading post, and long-time meeting place for First Nations people, is set to become a designated heritage resource as work begins to preserve the remote site.
Lansing Post, at the confluence of the Stewart and Lansing rivers, is about 120 kilometres east of Mayo and accessible only by boat or snowmobile. It was established as a trading post in 1902 and abandoned about 50 years later.
Now, there are just a few old buildings and very occasional visitors. Even by boat, it's hard to get to — Fraser Falls lies between Lansing and Mayo
A special history
"There's something magical about it," said Joella Hogan, the heritage and culture manager for the Nacho Nyäk Dun First Nation in Mayo. The First Nation's final agreement with the Yukon government stipulates that Lansing Post would be designated a heritage site.
"When you think about how people came together from all over this northern area, and they met there, and our elders talk about potlatches and feasting," Hogan said.
According to the Yukon government, the site was heavily used by Northern Tuchone, Peel, Macmillan River and Tulita people, also as a trading post.
"One special story that [elders] talk about is how the dog teams coming in would always be decorated with their beautiful dog packs, and their beads, and bells, and you could hear them coming for quite a ways. That story seems to come up often," Hogan said.
She said the First Nation and the Yukon government are just getting started on a management plan for the site, and there will be public consultations this summer.
"This place had a significant role in Yukon's history, not just for the Nacho Nyäk Dun. So we want to make sure that we hear from people throughout the Yukon."
A low-key place
One person they want to hear from is Bruce Mitford. He and his family live in Mayo, but they've been off-and-on residents of Lansing Post for more than 30 years. Mitford bought a trapline there in the 1970s, and he and his wife still work it.
"We get a few canoeists that go by every year, and that's about it. I guess, you know, I'd like to see not too much change, really," he said.
"There's a certain spirit of the place. It's got great soil — the best soil I've seen anywhere in the Yukon so, excellent for gardening."
The Mitfords have typically lived at Lansing Post in one of the historic buildings for a year, or years, at a time. Bruce has done work to keep the buildings in shape, and last year received a government grant to fix the foundation on one building.
"I'm not sure what the plan will be," he said. "I don't want to see them put a chain link fence around it, and of course, my wife and I would like to stay there until we're ready to give up the trapline.
"I've always appreciated Lansing as kind of a low-key place."