From Homeland to Mining Frontier and Back

Abstract

Mining has historically driven the colonial transformations of the Yukon. This paper introduces the concept of a resource imaginary, referring to the predominant perception of the Yukon in terms of mineral resource extraction. This perception deeply influences land use, labor dynamics, and the sociocultural fabric of Yukon society. The persistence of this resource imaginary presents ongoing challenges for First Nation cosmologies. Narratives are instrumental in shaping these imaginaries. Through narrative reinhabitation—which incorporates linguistic, legislative, and temporal dimensions—Yukon First Nations seek to challenge the resource imaginary, promote Indigenous cosmologies, and encourage a harmonious coexistence of multiple “worlds.” Based on extensive, multi‐year research with mining and First Nations stakeholders, this paper explores the interplay between the extractive industry and narrative reinhabitation, with a specific focus on the First Nation of Nacho Nyäk Dun. It addresses an underexplored intersection by examining the Yukon’s evolving recognition as home once again while demonstrating that central Yukon First Nations neither uniformly support nor oppose resource extraction; rather, they situate themselves within a framework of place‐based histories that integrate both Indigenous and mining legacies.