The Dakhká Khwáan Dancers
#Awardwinning #InlandTlingit #Dancegroup
biography.
The Dakhká Khwáan Dancers, are a National Award winning Inland Tlingit dance group based out of Whitehorse, Yukon Territory. They focus on reclaiming their languages and traditional values through their inherent art form of singing, drumming, dancing, and storytelling. The Dakhká Khwaán Dancers strive to present their performance with the outmost respect to cultural protocol and with the highest form of artistic integrity. Since forming in the community of Carcross in 2007, they have grown from 6 to 30 members and with the addition of a children’s group, the Dakhká Khwaán Jrs.
Dakhká Khwáan means Inland People/Nation, a name given to them by the late Dakla'weidi elder, Mrs. Eliza Bosely. They are members of the Dakla’weidi, Yan Yedi, Ganaxteidi, Deisheetaan, Ishkihittaan, Kookhittaan, Lukaax.ádi and Wolf Clans.
The group is led by Marilyn Jensen, who has danced since she was 2 years old in the group her Mother started in the 1970s, The Skookum Jim/Keish Tlingit Dancers. In addition, they are advised and guided by their loving group Elders and through the knowledge passed on from their Ancestors. Members of the group are the decendents of renowned Yukon Indigenous elders: Peter and Agnes Johns, Angela Sidney, Dora Wedge, Johnny Johns, Patsy Henderson, Louise Dickson, Tommy Smarch, and numerous others. We all share a passion for expressing our identity through the arts and absolutely love to sing, drum, learn language, make regalia and dance.
summer tour.
27
May
Our 10th Anniversary Party!
Carcross -Commons, Carcross, Yukon, 2:00pm
2
June
Yukon First Nations Graduation
Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre, Whitehorse ,Yukon, 12:00pm
2-4
June
Dance Celebration Da Kų Nän Ts’étthèt (Our House is Waking up the Land)
Da Kų Cultural Centre, Haines Junction, Yukon, 12:00pm
15-19
June
Performances + Dance Workshops
Smithers, British Columbia, Town of Smithers, 12:00pm
20
June
C/TFN Long House Opening
C/TFN Long House, Carcross, Yukon, 12:00pm
21
June
National Aboriginal Day
Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre, Whitehorse, Yukon, 12:00pm
1
July
Canada Day Performance - Featuring DJ Dash
Canada Place, Vancouver, British Columbia, 12:00pm
1-2
July
Canada Day Performance
National Arts Centre, Ottawa, Ontario, 12:00pm
6
July
Adäka Cultural Festival
Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre, Whitehorse, Yukon, 12:00pm
6
July
Atlin Music Festival
Atlin, Atlin, British Columbia, 12:00pm
26-28
July
Haa ḵusteeyí Celebration
Teslin, Teslin, Yukon, 12:00pm
2
August
Canada Summer Games
MTS Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba, 12:00pm
