Gu Nähtsey, the Hän translation for ‘plants we all pick/harvest’, is also the name of the traditional plant medicine working group in Dawson City. Gu Nähtsey is a proud group of Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in First Nation Citizens and community partners with a goal to reclaim and promote the intergenerational sharing of medicinal plants and traditions to promote the health of their community. Gu Nähtsey has been endorsed by Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Government in collaboration with Yukon Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (YSPOR). Gu Nähtsey is composed of Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in citizens and allies including a Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Elder, Knowledge Keeper/Seeker, youth, citizens, and Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Government representatives.
Gu Nähtsey supports their community-led medicinal plant revitalization effort by setting guidelines for harvesting and documenting Indigenous medicinal plant uses and traditional stories. During this process, group members have learned and shared traditional knowledge within the group. Gu Nähtsey has also supported YSPOR’s Research Assistant, Piper’s, research project to better understand the health needs of Indigenous people in Dawson. This research will inform cultural services and ceremonies at the hospital for Indigenous patients. In the future Gu Nähtsey hopes to partner with the First Nations Health Program at the Dawson City Community Hospital to contribute to the development of their First Nations Cultural Room.
Through YSPOR funding, Gu Nähtsey has been able to organize health initiatives including their quarterly traditional plant medicine workshops. The first workshop will focus on Mental Wellness and Immunity and is scheduled for February 2024. The support from YSPOR and Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Government has made it possible to bring these valuable opportunities to Yukon communities. We look forward to seeing how Gu Nähtsey will contribute to community wellness next!
Author: Jamie Thomas