“Once upon a time, when women were birds, there was the simple understanding that to sing at dawn and to sing at dusk was to heal the world through joy. The birds still remember what we have forgotten, that the world is meant to be celebrated.” ~ Terry Tempest Williams, When Women Were Birds: Fifty-Four Variations on Voice

What were the first sounds that you heard in the womb, besides the rhythmic drumbeat of your mother’s heart and, later on, her voice? Was it car horns and city sounds, or was it waves and wind and birds singing? None of us remember, but whatever it was, it’s probably deeply woven into who we are now.

It’s been argued that beyond these nostalgic associations that sound can have with our infancy and childhood, it’s also connected with something evolutionarily much deeper inside of us. There are sounds that we’ve evolved to over the span of human history: rain, the crackling of a fire, wind, water and birds. They were the soundtrack of our ancestors’ lives, and some argue that it’s for that reason that they still have such a soothing effect on us.

Julian Treasure, an expert on sound and communication skills, as well as a TED speaker, says that “birdsong, for example, is a sound which most people find reassuring. There is a reason for that. Over hundreds of thousands of years we’ve learned that when the birds are singing, things are safe. It’s when they stop you need to be worried”: https://youtu. be/yEWdx0xhbx8.

I’m not a bird expert and honestly I’m not very good at differentiating the various bird songs around me, but I am very aware of their effect on me. Whether it’s the early-dawn chorus of songbirds outside my window, the clucking of chickens on a farm or the evening serenade of different waterfowl on a quiet lake in summer, these sounds all make me feel profoundly relaxed. Walking in the boreal forest would be a completely different experience without the chirping and singing of chickadees and warblers and their many other feathered friends—one that would possibly be a lot less restorative. cont’d on page 4 ...

A study titled Birdsongs Alleviate Anxiety And Paranoia In Healthy Participants was released in October of last year and published in Scientific Reports. It found that bird song decreased depressive states, significantly alleviated anxiety and lowered paranoia. It stated that “birdsongs might be implicitly associated with a vital natural environment, divert attention away from (internal and external) stressors, or could signal the absence of acute threat”: https://www.nature. com/articles/s41598-022-20841-0.

On the Cover Events

Back in 2019, the three Inland Tlingit nations (Taku River, Teslin and Carcross/Tagish) met in Atlin for a three-day, biannual canoe trip to Haakusteeyi celebrations in Carcross, starting in Atlin, portaging to Tagish Lake and then into Windy Arm to Carcross. This July they will celebrate Haakusteeyi in Atlin - for the first time.

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Bird song and its healing potential cont’d from page 3

listening consciously, you can take control of the sound around you. It’s good for your health. It’s good for your productivity.” https:// youtu.be/rRepnhXq33s

We’re in the midst of the longest days of the summer right now and the Yukon’s midnight sun seems to affect the birds much like it does us: long hours of daylight means shorter nights and less sleep. What better time to enjoy their songs and their potential healing benefits than now, the summer solstice? May their melodies remind us to celebrate not only this special window of time but every day that we’re lucky enough to wake up once more to birds singing.

Sounds affect our physical body, our emotions, our brains and even our behaviours. Some people find that bird song helps them feel relaxed yet alert; maybe that’s because we subconsciously link it to early morning, almost as if it were nature’s alarm clock. Recordings of birds singing are often used in sound therapy as a technique to improve health and well being. It seems like such a simple thing but maybe it’s exactly that simplicity which holds the key to its vast healing potential. Andrea Mechelli, professor of Early Intervention in Mental Health at King’s College London, says “we know exercise makes everyone feel better. But it’s incredibly challenging to motivate someone with depression to exercise. Whereas contact with bird life is something that, perhaps, is feasible.” https:// www.earthisland.org/journal/index.php/articles/entry/bird-andbirdsong-encounters-improvemental-health-study-finds/

Here in the Yukon we’re surrounded by bird song, even in urban areas like downtown Whitehorse. Whether it’s a sparrow’s simple singing on Main Street, a raven’s throaty croaking in the Superstore parking lot or a seagull squawking near the Yukon River, we don’t have to go far to realize that there are bird sounds all around us. Actively listening and being aware of them is said to even further increase their benefits on our mental health. With time it can become a habit. As Treasure says in his TED Talk The 4 Ways Sound Affects Us “if you’re

If you’re interested in learning more about local bird and wildlife conservation, check out Yukon Bird Club (yukonbirds.ca), CPAWS Yukon (cpawsyukon.org), Yukon Wildlife Preserve (yukonwildlife. ca), Yukon Conservation Society (yukonconservation.ca) and Wildlife Conservation Society Canada (https://www.wcscanada.org/). n leave with something to smile about.

You can expect friendly and welcoming care in an environment that relaxes even the most anxious patients. We all love what we do, and look forward to welcoming you and your family to our practice.

July 8th

Yukon Gold Panning Championships

Put your gold panning skills to the test in this fun competition for all ages and skill levels! With plenty of prizes to win, including keeping the gold you find!

KLONDIKE INSTITUTE OF ART & CULTURE

Confluence by Raven Spirit Dance Nehiyawewin by Sandra Lamouche

Friday June 30th enjoy an incredible evening of live dance perforamce. Tickets on sale now!

KIAC.ca

BOMBAY PEGGY’S

Come and enjoy a handcrafted cocktail at our pub with a seasonal outdoor patio.

Open daily at 3pm Located at 2nd & Princess St.

For room reservations

BombayPeggys.com

(867) 993-6969

Downtown Hotel

Welcome to the Downtown Hotel. Freshly renovated rooms with a Klondike atmosphere. Dine at Jack London Grill with a summer patio and visit the Sourdough Saloon, home of the famous “Sourtoe Cocktail” DowntownHotel.ca

ANNABELLE’S NOODLE HOUSE

Enjoy the best noodles in the Klondike! Whether you like Pad Thai, Red Curry, Pho or Spring Rolls- there is something here for everyone!

Open 7 days a week 12pm-8pm

Dine-in & take out. Fully licensed.

AnnabellesNoodleHouse.ca

Upcoming Events

June 23 Solstice St. Jean With New Hermitage & Beau Nectar

June 24 Solstice St. Jean Celebrations

July 1 Canada Day Celebrations

July 4-7 Yukon River Quest

July 8 25th Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in

Self-Governance Anniversary

Diamond Tooth Gerties

Experience Canada’s First Casino Diamond Tooth Gerties! Replete with Klondike flair, featuring slots, black jack, roulette and the best Cancan shows north of Vegas! DiamondToothGerties.ca

Bonanza Gold Motel And Rv Park

We offer Queen, Double, Kitchenette & pet friendly motel rooms. 50, 30 & 15 amp RV sites available. Free wifi, public laundry, showers & car wash. A great place to stay!

BonanzaGold.ca

Goldrush Campground

Located downtown Dawson City close to amenities, with history and adventure minutes from our facility. Showers and laundry provided on-site. GoldrushCampground.com

Klondike Kennels

Meet the rarest breed of dog in the world Qimmiq Inuit Dogs, or come for an overnight local off-grid experience in our cozy rustic cabin.

Klondike-Kennels.com