The spelling of ‘Vuntut Gwitchin’ is from the late Charlie Peter Charlie with elements taken from the Tukudh writing system for our language developed over a century ago. We use this spelling when referring to our First Nation government—the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation—our Settlement Lands and our Traditional Territory. This is also how we are identified in our Final and Self-Government Agreements. 

In contrast, the spelling ‘Van Tat Gwich’in’ comes from the more recent Gwich’in writing system developed in Alaska in the 1960s. We use this spelling whenever referring to ourselves as a people, to our culture and our traditions. Van Tat Gwich’in means “people who live among the lakes,” in reference to the lakes of the Crow Flats wetlands north of Old Crow where our ancestors lived until recently.

The Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation or VGFN means the collectivity of Citizens who share the language, culture, and laws of the Vuntut Gwitchin, and their descendants. We also use this name to refer to both the elected and administrative bodies of our government.

Chief means the leader of Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation chosen by the voting Citizens in a duly held election.

Citizen or VGFN Citizen means a person whose name is on the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation Citizenship List.

Council means the Council of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation chosen by the voting Citizens in a duly held election.

Councillor means either the Deputy Chief or Councillor chosen by the voting Citizens in a duly held election.

A Councillor appointed by the Chief to take on the role of Chief whenever he/she/they are away from Old Crow, the seat of the Vuntut Gwitchin Government.

Dinjii Zhuh k’yuu (Gwich’in language) is the name of the Gwich’in language. Dinjii Zhuh k’yuu is the official language of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation.

Elder means a VGFN citizen who is 60 years of age or older.

Elders Council Member means a Citizen who is sixty years of age or older and who chooses to be a member of the Elders Council.

Elector means a person who is on the First Nation Citizenship List, who is 18 years of age or older and who is not disqualified from voting.

General Assembly means the governing body composed of eligible VGFN citizens that provides direction to Council.

General Election means a regularly scheduled election held in accordance with Vuntut Gwitchin Laws, in which all Citizens who are at least 18 years old are entitled to vote.

Governing Body means a body established under the Constitution, which includes the General Assembly, Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation Court, Elders Council, and Council.

Land claims are modern-day treaties that set out the specific rights of a particular First Nation, such as rights to land and self-government. The Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation and 10 other Yukon First Nations have signed Land claims agreements with the Governments of the Yukon and Canada.

Non-Settlement Land means all land and water in the Yukon other than Settlement Land and includes Mines and Minerals in Category B Settlement Land and Fee Simple Settlement Land, other than Specified Substances as defined in the Umbrella Final Agreement.

Resident means a person who regularly lives on Vuntut Gwitchin Settlement Land the majority of the time, but who may or may not be a Citizen of Vuntut Gwitchin.

Self-Government Agreements recognize Self-Governing Yukon First Nations as governments, in contrast to Indian Act First Nations, and establish the framework for intergovernmental relationships. Self-Government Agreements provide Self-Governing Yukon First Nations with the power to enact laws of a local or private nature on their Settlement Land.

Settlement Land means Category A Settlement Land, Category B Settlement Land or Fee Simple Settlement Land, as defined in the Umbrella Final Agreement. Category A Land means the First Nation owns the surface of the land as well as what is below it.Category B Land means the First Nation owns only the surface rights to the land.

Traditional Territory means, subject to a Yukon First Nation Final Agreement, with respect to each Yukon First Nation and each Yukon Indigenous Person enrolled in that Yukon First Nation’s Final Agreement, the geographic area within the Yukon identified as that Yukon First Nation’s Traditional Territory on the map referred to in 2.9.0 in the Umbrella Final Agreement.

Umbrella Final Agreement means the 1993 agreement signed between Canada, Yukon and Council of Yukon First Nations.

Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation Citizenship List means the list of Citizens that is maintained by the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation.

Vuntut Gwitchin Final Agreement means the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation Final Agreement signed by the Government of Canada, the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation and the Government of the Yukon on May 29, 1993.

Vuntut Gwitchin Traditional Territory means, subject to a Yukon First Nation Final Agreement, the geographic area within the Yukon identified as that Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation’s Traditional Territory on the map referred to in 2.9.0 in the Umbrella Final Agreement.

Yukon First Nation Final Agreement means a land claims agreement for a Yukon First Nation that includes provisions specific to that Yukon First Nation and incorporates the provisions of the Umbrella Final Agreement.