WHITEHORSE, YT – The 2026 Annual Yukon Heritage Awards ceremony will be held on Tuesday, February 24 and feature the presentation of five awards to a combined total of seven deserving recipients.
The Yukon Historical and Museums Association (YHMA), which organizes the awards, invites the public to attend the ceremony at the Yukon Archives and help honour the award recipients. The event will start at 7 pm, with doors opening at 6:45 pm. No registration is required.
“Each year, we have the pleasure of hosting the heritage awards to recognize outstanding contributions in the field of Yukon heritage,” says Lianne Maitland, Executive Director of YHMA. “These seven individuals have had an immeasurable impact on the sector, in preserving and sharing Yukon heritage for the benefit of Yukoners now and in the future. What stands out to me is that all our recipients this year have in some way helped the next generation connect with heritage, which is so important for keeping the Yukon’s stories alive and our community thriving. We can’t wait to celebrate them.”
The awards to be presented include the Annual Yukon Heritage Award, two History Maker awards, the Helen Couch Volunteer of the Year Award, and the Innovation, Education, and Community Engagement Award.
Leading up to the awards presentation, guest speaker Amber Heals will give a talk entitled “Planting Seeds of Change Through Interpretation.” Amber is a Yukon First Nations interpreter passionate about sharing the history and culture of the Yukon and its First Peoples. She views interpretation as storytelling with structure, a dynamic and engaging way to share ideas and connect to Kwäday times, the days of long ago, and to shift perspectives and create change. A reception will follow the ceremony.
YHMA thanks the Yukon Archives and Historic Sites Unit, Government of Yukon for their support of this event.
About the Recipients
Patrick “Koolseen” James will receive the Annual Heritage Award (posthumous) following a life dedicated to strengthening the cultural and environmental heritage of Carcross/Tagish First Nation (C/TFN) and the Yukon. A respected Elder and leader, he shared knowledge with generosity and guided community decision‑making for decades. Patrick contributed significantly to land stewardship through his work with the Carcross/Tagish Land Management Board and the Yukon Land Use Planning Council. He advocated for the protection of the Southern Lakes Caribou Herd and helped pass this stewardship ethic on to youth. His leadership also shaped the Carcross/Tagish Final Agreement, and he served as Chief from 1995 to 2001. Beyond governance, he operated boat charters that allowed him to share teachings about the land, water, and animals with visitors. In 2022, Patrick joined the Conrad Historic Site Working Group as the C/TFN Elder representative, where his cultural insight and thoughtful guidance strengthened the implementation of the site’s Management and Interpretation Plans, ensuring they reflect Indigenous values and long‑standing relationships to the area.
A History Maker Award will be presented to Donna Darbyshire, whose unwavering dedication to preserving Yukon First Nations (YFN) heritage and culture shines through in her professional and volunteer work in cultural heritage. From her start in the 1980s as producer at Northern Native Broadcasting, to her role from the 1990s to 2016 as Native Reference Assistant at the Yukon Archives and Whitehorse Public Library, to her current position of Photo Archivist with the Council of Yukon First Nations, Donna has spent over four decades researching, preserving, and providing access to heritage, often dedicating far more hours than required by her job. Even outside of work, she is an eager and much-sought-after assistant and a source of inspiration to those working on family histories or researching other topics related to YFN history and culture. She also served as a volunteer on the board of the Yukon Council of Archives for several years, bringing sage advice for developing community archival services in First Nations.
Lesley Buchan will also be recognized with a History Maker Award. Recently retired, Lesley’s extensive career and volunteer work has had an immeasurable impact on both the archival sector and the individuals within it. Having started at the Yukon Archives when it was still housed in a small facility downtown, Lesley contributed to many innovations as the Archives developed over the years. Her work arranging and describing countless records, as well as her talent for making connections among researchers, resources, and experts, has supported many in learning about territorial history, while her deep knowledge of archival resources, her curiosity, and her helpful personality make her a powerful ambassador for the Yukon Archives and Yukon heritage more broadly. Lesley has also been an active volunteer, contributing many hours to archives-related organizations both local and national. Her leadership shows in her dedication to offering advice and training opportunities to younger colleagues, participation in strategic discussions to promote archival development, and advocacy for the preservation of our collective cultural memory.
Helen Couch Volunteer of the Year Award recipient Cathy Hines brings her experience as former Executive Director of the Dawson City Museum and as a teacher to her volunteer work with YHMA. She is a long-serving board member, having held multiple offices including President, Secretary, and, currently, Treasurer, as well as serving on various committees. With her background in teaching, Cathy has become a fixture of the Yukon/Stikine Regional Heritage Fair, acting not only as Head Judge but also as an essential member of the organizing committee. This program is aimed at students in grades 4-9. Numerous other events and fundraisers have also come to fruition thanks to Cathy’s constant willingness to lend a hand, and she never hesitates to help where needed in the YHMA office. In addition, Cathy currently sits on the Yukon Church Heritage Society Board of Directors and has developed educational resources and programs for several Yukon museums.
Bessie Jim, Christle Moulton, and Mierl Richard will jointly receive the Innovation, Education, and Community Engagement Award for their outstanding interpretation of Tséi Zhéłe / Sinwaa Éex’i Yé / Conrad Historic Site (Conrad). As cultural ambassadors, they bring authenticity, humility, and leadership to every program and event. Their work offers visitors of all ages and backgrounds an immersive, culturally grounded experience shaped by language, oral tradition, and a deep respect for Haa Ḵusteeyí / Our Ways of Being and Knowing. Through storytelling, traditional knowledge, and activities such as bannock-making and fur preparation, the three illuminate the Tagish Kwan people’s enduring connection to the land while addressing the layered history of First Nation stewardship, mining, and recreation at Conrad. Teachings shared in both English and Tlingit highlight core values of respect, balance, and interconnectedness. Together, the Conrad Interpreters exemplify excellence in cultural education and heritage stewardship, fostering meaningful cross-cultural engagement alongside the revitalization of language and cultural practices.
Award descriptions can be found at here.