Roderick Blackjack, Ttheezoa (1926 – 2013)
Roddy Blackjack was born at Rink Rapids to parents David and Bessie (Billy) Blackjack. He is Northern Tutchone from the Wolf Clan through his mother, and a descendant of the Dakh’lawedi Wold Cland of the Tagish Kwan through his grandmother Julia.1) Roddy and brothers Clyde and Stanley were raised by their grandparents at Little Salmon Village. They lived in tents until they moved to Carmacks.2) When Roddy was old enough he spent time in Carmacks helping his mother raise his younger siblings. He hunted for his siblings and idolized his uncle George Bill and Aunt Sarah Charlie.3)
Roddy met his wife Bessie in 1956 and they raised six children. Roddy worked at the Tantalus Butte coal mine and at Mr. Nansen and Mt. Freegold mines. He worked as a surveyor and equipment operator for Yukon Highways building the Robert Campbell Highway. He worked on the Takhini River Bridge and the Bear Feed Creek Bridge on the Campbell Highway. He had class one qualifications and became the main equipment operator.4)
When he was working at the Carmacks coal mine, he was appointed by Elder Taylor McGundy as volunteer chief of the Little Salmon/Carmacks [Band] and served for six years filling out DIAND paperwork at night. Before the Northern Native Brotherhood was formed he met with Elijah Smith and other chiefs to create the “Together Today for our Children Tomorrow” document that started Yukon land claims.5) In 1973, he travelled to Ottawa with a delegation of First Nation leaders who presented the document to Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau.6)
Roddy was elected chief of the Little Salmon/Carmacks First Nation in 1968-1970 and again in 1986-1990. Roddy worked to being about the Northern Tutchone Council with Mayo and Pelly. He worked on the Umbrella Final Agreement document and he was instrumental in bringing surface rights to Category A lands. His vision of self-government for the future was two governments walking hand in hand and working together. Roddy Blackjack is remembered as a passionate spokesperson who worked hard for his people as part of the CYFN caucus. He was the Executive Elder for the Council for Yukon First Nations (CYFN) until he retired in 2011.7) Percy Henry quoted Blackjack as saying: “we are two cultures; we work together because in the future we are going to need each other.”8)
In retirement, Roddy bought land at Tatchun Creek and started a tourism business of storytelling and taking guided boat tours through Five Finger Rapids. He became an Elder in residence for Yukon College in the late 1990s. An outdoor classroom, known as Roddy’s Camp, was named in his honour. It has a fire pit for storytelling, one of Blackjack’s favourite activities. He advocated for the Elders’ purpose and role in the college. In 2013, he participated in an all-chief’s summit where he repeated his statement to be strong and smart and never forget the traditional and cultural teachings. His serious side was balanced by a great sense of humour.9)
Roddy Blackjack received the Commissioner’s Award for Public Service in 2002 and the Queen Elizabeth Golden Jubilee Medal in 2009 for his outstanding and exemplary contributions to his community and Canada.