The settlement of Teslin is located on Teslin Lake at the mouth of the Nisutlin River in the Yukon, Canada. The community lies 183 km east of Whitehorse on the Alaska Highway. Watson Lake is about 260 km farther east. The recreational potential of the area and spectacular views of the big lake from the Alaska Highway hold considerable appeal for tourists. Teslin is an active tourism centre with significant numbers of people stopping over during the summer months.
The First Nation people of the Teslin area are the Inland Tlingit, or the Dakh-ka Tlingit. For centuries, the Tlingit people have traveled through this area. Famous as traders, the Tlingit came from Alaska in search of furs for trading, and some settled in the Teslin area. Teslin Lake, which was an important fishing area for First Nations, was one of the waterways used to reach the Yukon River during the Klondike Gold Rush. A small trading post was established in 1903, mainly to serve the Tlingit people living in the area. After the Alaska Highway was completed in 1942, Teslin became a permanent settlement.
The Teslin Tlingit Heritage Centre welcomes visitors to participate in the day-to-day life of the Tlingit people whose traditions are...
Museum features 1930-50s photos of Teslin Tlingit indian people, their colourful ceremonial regalia, beadwork, hunting, gathering and historical trade...