June 15, 2007

by Her Excellency Michaëlle Jean

 This week I will complete my first official tour of the country when I head to Yukon. We will be crossing the 60th parallel to witness the endless light of the summer solstice and discover what is left of the spirit of adventure that forged the character of communities where solidarity rhymes with simplicity and daring conquers all. My husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, and I—as well as the members of our team who will be joining us—have been invited to meet with people from Whitehorse, Haines Junction (in Klukshu), and the famous Dawson City. We are fascinated by the dynamic culture and the abundance of artists from Yukon Artists at Work, Arts Underground, the Sundog Carving Studio and the Yukon Arts Centre, where we will be holding an Art Matters discussion, as we have done on other visits across the country.

How do you explain why artists are so active and productive in Yukon? What challenges have they faced and what do they still have to do? What is the reality of artistic creation on the outskirts of the large centres? How do you avoid isolation? How are they supported in their communities? How do you explain Yukoners’ strong sense of belonging? There are so many questions, and we expect to hear some passionate answers. Social cohesion is essential in Yukon, which has barely 30,000 people spread over a territory with larger-than-life landscapes and infinite wealth. There is more than just gold; Yukon is full of people who all know how to live together, despite their cultural and linguistic differences. For example, I will be attending the opening of a daycare in Dawson City. Set up by the Trond’ek Hwech’in First Nation, it will be open to every family in the city. The small Francophone community of 1,200 has a reputation for being very dynamic and proudly determined to accept Francophone immigrants from all over the world and help them integrate into the community. Our visit will also coincide with National Aboriginal Day on June 21, which we will help celebrate under the watchful eye of the Raven, on which many incredible First Nations’ legends are based. The Raven is the emblem of Yukon in recognition of the importance of this heritage.