Yukon who is who

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Art Johns //Xina, Ts'ewat// (1934 - 2021)
	
Art Johns was of Tlingit ancestry, born into the Yanyedi clan. He was the son of Johnny Johns, of Carcross, and Lucy Ward, from Atlin. His paternal grandparents packed on the Chilkoot.((Sheila Greer, //Skookum Stories on the Chilkoot/Dyea Trail.// Carcross-Tagish First Nation, 1995: viii.)) Johns grew up in the communities of Carcross and Tagish. When Art was old enough, his father included him in his company, Johnnie Johns & Son. The business had about forty horses, plus trucks, boats, and camping and riding equipment.((Dianne Green, “Johnnie Johns.” //The Whitehorse Star// (Whitehorse), 28 May 2021 [reprint].))\\
	
Art learned to play the guitar when he was young. In the 1990s a documentary film called //Life’ Dream// showed Johns caring for his horses and teaching bush skills to his sons. He learned “God Must be a Cowboy” for the film and his musical career took off. Johns became a regular guest at festivals in Skagway, Whitehorse, and Juneau. He often played with his long-time musical partner Skagway fiddler Nola Lampken.((Ed Schoenfeld, “AK: Yukon cowboy shares love of old country songs at fold festivals.” Alaska Public Media, 14 April 2017. 2019 website:   https://www.alaskapublic.org/2017/04/14/ak-yukon-cowboy-shares-love-of-old-country-songs-at-folk-festival/))\\

Art Johns was among those who negotiated the Carcross/Tagish First Nation land claim and self-government agreement.((Dann Macdonald, “Celebrating First Nations’ achievements and culture.” //What’sUpYukon// (Whitehorse), 14 February 2018.)) He worked with Yukon archaeologists to document old stone tool sites, hunting blinds, and brush houses.((Sheila Greer, //Skookum Stories on the Chilkoot/Dyea Trail.// Carcross-Tagish First Nation, 1995: viii.)) He was a key member of the Southern lakes Caribou Steering Committee. He patrolled the land and spread the word about caribou conservation. He shared his stories with children in the Caribou in the Schools program. Much of the way we think about caribou has been shaped by Art Johns’ stewardship and leadership.((The Southern lakes Caribou Steering Committee. “Art Johns.” //Yukon News// (Whitehorse), 19 February 2021.))