New Educational Scholarship Honors Deceased Carcross/Tagish First Nation Elder Edna Helm

The historic town of Bennett, British Columbia, is described as “abandoned” on many tourism websites—but until recently, it was home to a single seasonal resident who made sure tourists never felt alone when they visited.

Edna Helm was a Carcross/Tagish First Nation elder and Ishkataan clan matriarch who spent most of her life in the Bennett area, where her family has had a home and trapping line for many years. And last week, a new educational scholarship was named in her honor.

During his lifetime, Helm was called “Mayor Bennett.”

Helm, who died earlier this year, was one of the original members of the Carcross Tagish Renewable Resources Council when it was established in 2010. The council is the central authority for fisheries, wildlife and environmental management in the Carcross/Tagish First Nation settlement area.

Helm’s work in environmental protection and advocacy extended far beyond her council work. She also maintained a working relationship with Parks Canada for decades, operating the Bennett Trap Line.

The Bennett Estate is now part of the Chilkoot Trail National Historic Site and is managed by Parks Canada.

Continuing Edna’s legacy

Helm’s love of nature was one reason the Carcross Tagish Renewable Resources Council honored her last week by announcing a new scholarship in her memory.

The Edna Helm Scholarship Fund is for students pursuing postgraduate education in “biology, ecology, environmental management or natural resource management, with special consideration for those studying renewable resource management,” according to the Yukon Foundation website. The Yukon Foundation awards scholarships in the territory.

Helm’s daughters say that although their mother received little formal education herself, she valued it greatly and a new scholarship in her name would be an honor.

“If it was made public in her name, she would be really proud of it,” said Marie Helm.

The fund was established with a $12,000 gift. Additional donations are being accepted through the Yukon Foundation.

Don Toews, former chairman of the Carcross Tagish Renewable Resources Council and another original member, said it’s a very positive thing that the council is honoring its elders. He praised Edna Helm’s efforts to encourage young people to get involved with the council, especially women and young mothers.

“She dedicated 12 years to the resource council in a very, very strong way, and she was an elder the entire time,” Toews said. “She didn’t say much, but she expressed herself when she felt strongly about something, and that was very much appreciated.”

Throughout her life, Helm gained a reputation for caring for others, both family members and complete strangers.

The Chilkoot Trail, which was used as a passage from Alaska to Canada long before the Klondike Gold Rush, ends in Bennett. Some modern travelers come to Bennett expecting to find restaurants and grocery stores, according to Marie Helm.

“They don’t realize there’s nothing there… Mom always ate fish and bannock,” Marie said, citing her mother’s famous bannock recipe that was featured in Northern magazines.

“One guy, his little boat capsized. Other people don’t have food on the trail, they’re not prepared. So my mom was always there, welcoming people, opening doors, (to) feed a lot of people.”

Both Marie and her sister Nancy say that in their family, Edna cared not only for her own children, but also for her brothers and sisters.

“She was the one who held the family together,” Marie said.

Big shoes to fill

The Helm sisters say when their mother died in February, she left behind a great legacy that she accomplished within her family and clan, as well as through her work with organizations like the council and Parks Canada.

“She worked really hard trying to preserve and protect and make sure other people had that knowledge,” Marie said.

For Don Toews, continuing Edna’s legacy is not about fulfilling responsibilities but about empowering others to step up and fill the gaps.

In the case of Edna’s involvement with Parks Canada and maintaining the trapping lines at Bennett, it was her grandson Niko who took over that role.

Marie and Nancy say that in the months following Edna’s death, they received messages and condolences from across Canada and the United States.

Marie says that having a scholarship awarded in her honor shows the respect others had for Edna and her environmental teachings.

As for how Edna might react to such an honor, her daughter Nancy has a pretty good idea. She cites a phrase Edna was famous for: “Oh, for God’s sake, you people!”