'It's what I love doing': Tahltan carver to teach art to Yukon University students this fall

The First Nations Arts certificate program is returning to Yukon University this fall. 

The program, which started shortly before the pandemic, was paused in 2023 when its lead instructor, Elizabeth Bosely, retired. It will now return to the Ayamdigut campus in Whitehorse for the 2025-26 academic year.

The certificate program blends Indigenous visual arts courses with business classes to prepare students to manage a career in the arts. 

Stephen Biggin-Pound, the university's chair of the school of academic and skill development, said the program was put on hold while the university searched for the right instructor.

"It's difficult sometimes to hire the correct or the right person for the role, and so we took some time to do that, and I think we've got that person," Biggin-Pound said.

Vernon Asp is the university's new assistant professor. Asp is an experienced Tahltan carver who was raised in Mayo, Yukon.

He graduated from Yukon College (now Yukon University) in 2002 with a bachelor's degree from the Yukon Native Teacher Education Program. He also attended the Kitaanmax Northwest Indigenous Art school for carving and later earned a master's degree in art education from the University of Victoria in 2013.

Asp has since led carving and design workshops and mentored emerging artists as a featured instructor at the Sundog Retreat in Yukon.

Asp will be teaching the program's small craft and carving module.

"I decided I wanted to be part of this program, because this is my forte," Asp said. "It's what I love doing, Northwest Coast art, especially."

As part of his module, Asp says students will create stencils with Northwest Coast art which will be applied to four different projects such as hoodies, cradleboards, or carvings. 

Biggin-Pound says the program is part of the university's efforts to offer more cultural programs.

"We, at Yukon University, in trying to promote reconciliation, we want to offer more programs that support Yukon First Nations, other than just academic programs," he said. "This is a cultural program with an academic element that really supports Yukon First Nations to develop their art, their culture, and potentially make a business out of it."

Fine arts courses in the program include beadwork, sewing, traditional footwear, fine craftwork, drawing and carving, and small crafts and product development. 

English, math and business courses are also required. Biggin-Pound says this allows the program to be recognized as a certificate, which can open more opportunities for students later on.

Asp says the program will have a positive impact on students' lives, both within and outside the classroom.

"The program is incredibly important, because it is an expression of Indigenous identity," Asp said. "It helps to found students in the areas of learning their culture and balancing their lifestyle."

Biggin-Pound says the university hopes to expand the program over time.

"We'd like to evolve that and potentially add more to the program, more years, more different types of art, that sort of thing."

Asp says the expansion of the program is "highly needed" to accommodate more extensive projects.

"You need that time to create richness of authenticity versus craft," he said. "Craft is OK for making what I believe is called bread-and-butter, but fine art takes time."

The program is accepting applications until July 16, with a cap of 12 students. Preference will be given to Yukon First Nations and Indigenous students.