Gold miners in the Yukon uncovered a mummified baby woolly mammoth on June 21. The near-complete baby mammoth, named Nun cho ga — ‘big baby animal’ in Hän language — by Trʼondëk Hwëchʼin Elders was discovered in the Klondike gold fields in the Trʼondëk Hwëchʼin Traditional Territory.
“This is a remarkable recovery for our First Nation,” says Trʼondëk Hwëchʼin Chief Roberta Joseph in a press release. “And we look forward to collaborating with the Yukon government on the next steps in the process for moving forward with these remains in a way that honors our traditions, culture, and laws. We are thankful for the Elders who have been guiding us so far and the name they provided. We are committed to respectfully handling Nun cho ga as she has chosen now to reveal herself to all of us.”
The Yukon is rich in ice age era fossils, however, finding one ...
