Heritage
History
Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation

Zheh Gwatsàl (LaPierre House) and Gindèhchik (Rampart House) Historic Sites

Archival black and white photo of buildings on a grassy area with a hilly mountain behind them.
Gindèhchik (Rampart House) by the Porcupine River, Yukon circa 1920. Photo: Library and Archives Canada Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development fonds-a101582.

The historic sites of Zheh Gwatsàl meaning "Little House” and also known as LaPierre House and Gindèhchik meaning “Fish Spear Creek Mouth” and also known as Rampart House lie within the Traditional Territory of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation along the Porcupine River system.

Zheh Gwatsàl (LaPierre House) is located on the north side of the Bell River. Its location and bountiful environment made it a stopping point along the travel routes that connected the site with Fort McPherson to the east, Herschel Island to the north and Old Crow downriver to the west.

Gindèhchik (Rampart House) is located on the north bank of the Porcupine River at the International Boundary with Alaska at the 141st degree latitude. The historic use of Rampart House begins centuries before contact with outsiders when the site was occupied by early peoples who camped here for seasonal hunting and harvesting activities. The evidence of this is found in the archaeological record of bone fragments, hearths, stone flakes and tools.

Beginning in the late nineteenth century the site continued its use as a seasonal gathering place for the Gwich’in and a center for trade with the Hudson’s Bay Company trading posts. The main reason for this site’s location is the international boundary – The Hudson’s Bay Company moved here once the boundary was finally located after successive moves east from Fort Yukon.

It was one of the earliest places where the Gwich’in met and interacted with fur traders, missionaries, police and government officials. This was home to several Gwich’in families and is still visited by Gwich’in from Yukon and Alaska.

Chapter 13, Schedule B of the Vuntut Gwitchin Final Agreement states that Gindèhchik (Rampart House) and Zheh Gwatsàl (LaPierre House) shall be co-owned and co-managed by the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation and Government of Yukon and protected under the Historic Resources Act.

The Historic Site Management Plan provides long-range goals and objectives that will guide the protection, conservation, and interpretation of the heritage resources of Gindèhchik  and Zheh Gwatsàl. The Historic Sites Management Plan is intended to respect the past and current activities of Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation by using the best practices in heritage conservation.

The last Management Plan was approved and signed by the Vuntut Gwitchin and Government of Yukon on July 23, 2001 at Gindèhchik (Rampart House). An update to the 2001 Plan is underway.
 

Find out more about Zheh Gwatsàl (LaPierre House) and Gindèhchik (Rampart House) historic sites:

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