FULL DAY YUKON CULTURAL DISCOVERY TOUR BY LUXURY LIMO VAN

Finally a tour dedicated to shifting focus away from the hype of the Klondike Gold Rush and all it's players.  Instead we shall focus on the rich Indigenous history of this area as well as the impacts of the Gold Rush on the land, it's people, and the animals that call Yukon home.  This tour is a deep dive into topics not often illuminated on tours and much of it is only now bubbling to the surface after over a century of suppression. This is not a tour anyone can give. You will be guided by a long time year round Skagwegian and born and raised Alaskan who has witnessed an exponential evolution in the truth of how our region has mishandled our rich Indigenous brothers and sisters. We must reveal to heal, and this tour sets out to be a voice in this process. This tour is good for locals and visitors alike. We are all learning and healing in tandem.

From the non-Indigenous perspective of a 48 year resident of Shgagwéi, Lingit Aní we will explore together the rich stories of this land as well as the stark painful history it holds.  Skagway and Carcross village each had it's own dark chapter with Residential Boarding Schools (Pious X mission in Skagway and Choutla School in Carcross). Like many other communities in North America, Alaska and Yukon are also dealing with the intergenerational trauma from government programs to strip Native children of their rich heritage. With the recent unprecedented granting of Self-Governance by the Canadian Government to the Northernmost Canadian tribal groups, we are at the right place at the right time to see things being put back into alignment. 

Much healing has to be done to repair cultures that were intentionally destroyed and it is happening in this very corridor as we travel on the 6 hour Emerald Lake Cultural tour. This tour creates a platform to learn about this pivotal time in Shgagwéi and Carcross history. We open the conversation to focus on understanding, education, reconcilliation, and reparations. Each tour serves to share a more authentic picture of the history of this region and where guide and guests each have the chance to learn and grow from each other while spending the day driving through some of the most gorgeous land on earth. As much as your guide is interested in this focus, she is admittedly NOT an expert and it's with reverence and humility I tour on lands that deserve a voice with Indigenous memory. Until that time comes, I hope to hold space with respect, curiosity and truth.

Your guide will try and give you a few Lingít words to try out. Historically I always thank an animal when I get a chance to see one. On this tour (spoiler alert: I do this on most my tours) we will thank the animal in Tlingit and use it's Lingít name...they love that and will come back to be appreciated again if you do).

In Carcross, Yukon we will include a stop at Ha Shagóon Hidi, the Carcross Tagish FIrst Nations tribal Gathering and Learning Center to check out their beautiful collection of cedar totem poles carved by Carcross CTFN member Keith Smarch. Explore the small display of regalia, carvings, artwork in the center as well as the dugout canoe inside. A suggested donation of $20 canadian per person or whatever feels appropriate is customary to consider for entry.  

We will also spend a little time in down town Carcross with time to explore, grab a quick bite or drink, and enjoy some of the fabulous formline art in the Commons as well as some of the cedar poles carved by the talented Keith Smarch that watch over the commons daily.

The drive back could be more of a straight shot, or there may be some time left to work with to fit in some great photo stops as we make the most of our remaining time. Each tour is customized to each group, so specific timing and itenerary will vary from tour to tour. Tours depart at 7:30 am and return to Schgagwei 1:30pm. 150 miles round trip.

Travel in our full sized luxury limo van with leather captains chairs for groups of 7 (6 in back and 1 up front helping to look for wildlife with your guide). You came all this way! Treat yourself to the most comfortable van in Skagway!

*****If the owner is not available other long time year round Skagwegians who are dedicated to cultural history will be your guide. The owner is very picky and only chooses the best of the best to fill in when necessary.

***If you really want to geek out and have the time to read before we meet, I suggest reading two amazing books; 'Across the Shaman's River' by Dan Henry of Deishu/Haines, Alaska and 'True Reconciliation: How to be a force of change" by Jody Wilson-Raybould.

FOR THOSE CONSIDERING THE STANDARD 6 HOUR EMERALD LAKE TOUR HERE IS THE DESCRIPTION FOR YOUR COMPARISON:

The 6 Hour Emerald Lake Tour is the best bang for your buck when it comes to your short stay in Skagway! Our tiny town of 900 gets overrun with up to 10,000+ people off of 4 ships and the best option on these days is to drive away and discover the real reason we choose to live here!  Enjoy what is likely your ONLY opportunity while cruising the inside passage to drive into the interior and see something other than a temperate rain forest.  We drive through three climate zones in the first 25 miles; temperate rain forest in Skagway, sub alpine forest at the summit and boreal forest in Yukon.  The further you go inland, the better the weather may be and the better your
chances of spotting wildlife which avoids our noisy corridor in town and up the
Klondike Hwy to the summit.

Our drive up the Klondike Highway will parallel the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad which will be on one side of the valley with the highway on the other.  This can offer some great photo opportunities to catch the narrow gauge railroad in action if our timing is right.  Compared to taking the train itself, we will be able to make many stops along the way to take photos and we can also turn around to get a better look at something we missed. Sometimes the mornings can be very cloudy and the visibility up to the White Pass Summit is limited, but thanks to having more time for your tour, we should be gone long enough to allow the winds that usually come mid morning to blow the clouds away so we can make the stops on our way back if we missed them in the morning (you can't do that on the train!).

Your guide will tailor your tour to your interests and make stops according to your desires. As you enter the Yukon Territory we will drive past the old Venus mine and spectacular Bove Island on our way to Carcross village a sleepy little First Nations community with a rich heritage worth seeing first hand.  With 6 hours we can continue past Carcross to the unexpected world's smallest desert and take in the mind bending sight of sand dunes in the middle of this rugged landscape.  The highlight of this tour is breathtaking Emerald Lake, 75 miles from Skagway; It's like the northern lights in water!  6 hours allows for extra time to stop at a local attraction* and catch a little lunch or picnic in Carcross.     Grab a sandwich or ice cream in Carcross and enjoy a picnic lunch by the beach. 

150 miles round trip.

*Admission to attractions/activities/food are not
included in tour price.

Tutshi Sled Dog Tours (http://www.tagishlakekennel.com/summer-tours/) Iditarod Musher Michelle Phillips' summer camp offering puppies/sled dogs to pet and cart rides

Yukon Suspension bridge (www.yukonsuspensionbridge.com) 

FYI: The  7 HOUR LOLLYGAG TOUR  will allow for more stops at
attractions or will allow for more time for a proper meal in Carcross :

ALL TOURS TRAVEL UP TO THE WHITE PASS SUMMIT AND INCLUDE THESE STOPS OR DRIVE BY LAND MARKS:

*Rocky point, Brackett's wagon road and White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad tracks
*Scenic scrap metal heap and city trash incinerator
*US Customs
*Pitchfork Falls and Goat Lake Hydro Pipeline
*Bridal Veil Falls and White Pass City valley
*Moore Creek Bridge
*Welcome to Alaska Sign
*International Falls
*Sub Alpine terrain
*Multiple hanging glaciers

THE 6 HOUR EMERALD LAKE TOUR ADDS:
*60 miles beyond White Pass summit
*Views of Summit/Fraser Lake
*Canadian Customs
*Yukon Suspension Bridge
*Tutshi Boat Launch
*Tutshi panoramic view
*Windy Arm of Tagish Lake
*Sherry's favorite photo stop
*Welcome to the Yukon sign

*Bove Island and Lime Mt.
*Historic Carcross village
*Flush toilets!
*Sandy beach at Lake Bennett

*Spectacular Emerald Lake
*More time to visit Carcross
**Opportunity to visit Tagish Lake Kennels summer mushing camp to
pet puppies and/or enjoy the thrill of mushing with a dog cart rides
(admission required).

or Opportunity to visit Haa Shagóon Hídi Carcross' Cultural Centre, located on the Traditional Territory of the Carcross Tagish First Nation