Rivers to Ridges

Rivers to Ridges We support reciprocal relationships with the land through educational leadership, team training, collaborative resource design, and immersive program delivery.

All on the traditional territories of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and Ta'an Kwäch'än Council. We believe that deepening our connection to the natural world is crucial for healthy bodies, minds and hearts. We aim to build awareness, empathy and community through mentoring relationships. We design, deliver and support outdoor and land-based learning opportunities for young people. Our work is guided by certified teachers and experienced outdoor educators.

​We are based out of Whitehorse, Yukon and our programs take place on the traditional territory of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and the Ta'an Kwach'an Council.

🔍 Here’s the tiniest peek into the Yukon Plant Guild 2nd Annual Plant Festival children’s programming! Rivers to Ridges ...
07/21/2026

🔍 Here’s the tiniest peek into the Yukon Plant Guild 2nd Annual Plant Festival children’s programming!

Rivers to Ridges partnered with long-time friend and Knowledge Holder Doug Smarch to bring wisdom, magic, flavour and skill-building to the kiddos in our care.

With two seasoned Heartwood Youth Leadership Training alumni, Doug’s knack for hands-on projects and Emily’s deep and enduring love of all things ‘plant’, this was a joy to support.

Grateful to being connection to and care for plants to the forefront. May all the medicine and food beings grow in abundance and may we tend to our plant relatives with love and generosity 🌸💚🍓🌿





"This was the most transformative experience of my life." Multiple participants shared this sentiment as we closed our f...
07/16/2026

"This was the most transformative experience of my life."

Multiple participants shared this sentiment as we closed our first ever Sho Than K’e Ho Chi Dok Land and Peoples Relationship Ways Land Camp at Kluane Lake Research Station this week. These are the Traditional Territories of the Kluane First Nation (KFN) and the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations (CAFN).

The Land and Peoples Relationship Model work of Copper Joe Jack has brought people together from across the country in service of the No Voice. The Lands and Waters welcomed us with open arms and provided an arc for our group that we don’t take for granted.

As lands and communities burn this summer, we extend our love and care to the beings with which we share this earth. Many prayers went up this past week and we hope the power of this work ripples outwards so all may benefit.

We hold our hands up to Braiding Knowledges Canada / Renouer les savoirs Canada for making this possible.

The inaugural Sho Than K’e Ho Chi Dok Land and Peoples Relationship Model Ways Land Camp has begun on the territories of...
07/10/2026

The inaugural Sho Than K’e Ho Chi Dok Land and Peoples Relationship Model Ways Land Camp has begun on the territories of the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations and Kluane First Nation.

We’re grateful to the welcome from Lhù’ààn Mân and the folks at Kluane Lake Research Station 💧 With Copper Joe Jack leading this first cohort through the work of the Land and Peoples Relationship Model, we’re in good hands.

Gratitude to Braiding Knowledges Canada / Renouer les savoirs Canada for supporting this project 🔥

The Heartwood Youth Leadership Circle has closed for the year ⭕️ We’re proud of the effort this group put towards caring...
06/20/2026

The Heartwood Youth Leadership Circle has closed for the year ⭕️

We’re proud of the effort this group put towards caring for the land, for each other, for the projects we took on, and for the people we welcomed into the forest this week.

Mahsi Cho to lianne charlie for lending out the shirt printing supplies. To Hakim Birthworks for carving out beautiful custom Heartwood stamp. To BeaverCraft | Wood Carving & DIY Craft Kits for the knife making kits + the two local woodworkers who made it all possible to finish them by Friday! To Yukon Energy for supporting Elders and Knowledge Holders in being part of our programming. To all of the friends and family who joined us for Friday Celebration.

Happy Summer Solstice + Indigenous Peoples Day ☀️





Want a little peek into the Dlüra Forest with the Heartwood Youth Leadership Training Program? Time with Doug Smarch Jr....
06/19/2026

Want a little peek into the Dlüra Forest with the Heartwood Youth Leadership Training Program?

Time with Doug Smarch Jr. from Teslin, knife-making with a participant’s Grandad, rope teachings with visiting family members, stamp carving and shirt decorating with a local artists and so many games of Tracker.

Each day we’ve had a different question to lead us, and each game allows us to look at program from a leader’s perspective! Looking forward to celebrating their achievements tomorrow in our closing ceremonies.





Throwback to program at Vista Outdoor Learning Centre at the end of May. Rivers to Ridges spent the afternoon supporti...
06/08/2026

Throwback to program at Vista Outdoor Learning Centre at the end of May.

Rivers to Ridges spent the afternoon supporting women and femmes in feeling more prepared to be outside with children and young people.

Love to Nansi Cunningham for bringing us all together to connect on the land through play and reverence.




Check out what Rivers to Ridges + Caribou in the Schools + Carcross Tagish Renewable Resources Council got up to out at ...
06/08/2026

Check out what Rivers to Ridges + Caribou in the Schools + Carcross Tagish Renewable Resources Council got up to out at Skookie’s Culture Camp this weekend!

Celebrating Southern Lakes Caribou through art led to some beautiful creations.

Grateful for Coralee Johns, and and + all the Elders and young people that showed up to make the day so colourful.

Special shoutout to .regine for carving the stamps for this project, and coming to support the day!





Arctic Inspiration Prize

🌿 A little Rivers to Ridges magic is heading to the Yukon Plant Guild Yukon Plant Festival July 18 + 19. Potion-making,...
06/03/2026

🌿 A little Rivers to Ridges magic is heading to the Yukon Plant Guild Yukon Plant Festival July 18 + 19. Potion-making, storytelling, plant hunts, wildcrafting, art, and more.

🎟️ Coming to the Plant Festival?
Make it a magical weekend for the whole family.

Spots are still available in the Kids Offering for ages 4–12.

There it is!This incredible team brought home the Arctic Inspiration Prize for the Southern Lakes Caribou in the Schools...
05/07/2026

There it is!

This incredible team brought home the Arctic Inspiration Prize for the Southern Lakes Caribou in the Schools Program.

And now the work really begins.

This prize provides three years of funding to bring on a Program Coordinator and move this program off the shelf and onto the land across the Southern Lakes region.We can’t wait to see youth, Elders, educators, and communities shaping this program together on the land.

Rivers to Ridges is honoured to be part of a team with the Southern Lakes Caribou Steering Committee, Kwanlin Dün First Nation Carcross/Tagish First Nation Carcross Tagish Renewable Resources Council Government of Yukon (Department of Environment) and others!

The Arctic Inspiration Prize requires projects to be nominated by a local ambassador, and we are deeply honoured to have been nominated by Council of Yukon First Nations Grand Chief Alatini.

Shaw nithan to everyone who wrote us letters of support, reviewed our application, shared in-kind contributions, came to cheer us on last night. Mahsi cho to all of the Elders who contributed to the creation of this work, and to Copper Joe Jack of the Land and Peoples Relationship Model model for his guidance and teachings.

Congratulations to all of the other 2026 Laureates. What a beautiful night of art, celebration and inspiration.

Scroll through and see if you can spot a little photoshop action to bring a special Southern team member into the action! We love and miss you, Emily! You were right there with us.

Onward. 🧡🦌

Photos from AIP, and other wonderful friends in attendance!

More photos and more words to come! Mahsi to the Arctic Inspiration Prize for this gift and for this photo. WOW. We are ...
05/06/2026

More photos and more words to come!

Mahsi to the Arctic Inspiration Prize for this gift and for this photo.

WOW. We are so grateful for this team and this work.

Address

2180 2nd Avenue
Whitehorse, YT
Y1A5N6

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Rivers to Ridges posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category