Samuel Timothy Johnston Ànàlahòsh (b. 1935)
Sam Johnston was born and raised in Teslin to parents Rosie and David Johnston.1) Sam is the leader of the Ishkitan Clan of the Teslin Tlingit Council. Johnson was chief of the Teslin Tlingit for over fourteen years and was an MLA and the first First Nations' Speaker of the legislative assembly in the territory. During his eight years as an MLA he travelled to France, Germany, and England to promote Yukon tourism. He was also an active Tlingit dancer and travelled to Europe to share his dances and values. Johnson was a competitive musher but gave it up to raise a family and continue his role as chief. In 1985, he was the first Canadian race judge for the Yukon Quest. He spent many years teaching the children of Teslin about traditional Dene games and stick gambling. He eventually started coaching Dene games' teams at the Arctic Winter Games. Johnson's real passion is archery. His grandfather used to hunt with a bow and Sam made his first bow out of an old ski. He started coaching North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) athletes in 1993 when the Yukon only had two archers. In 1995, Sam competed in the NAIG in Minnesota. In 1997 at the Games in Victoria, Johnson won the gold medal and began coaching as well as competing. In the next NAIG in 2002 in Winnipeg, the thirteen-person Yukon archery team won eight medals, including a silver medal won by Sam. This was the first time that archers from other communities than Whitehorse and Teslin competed. Johnson was inducted into the Sport Yukon Hall of Fame in 2003 and is recognised for his many years coaching and officiating in archery and Dene games.2) Sam Johnston became the Yukon College's new chancellor on 9 September 2004. He has been active in the college for many years, especially in encouraging students studying aboriginal languages.3) Sam Johnston was one of ten inductees into the Order of Yukon on New Year’s Day in 2020.4)