Nestled in the heart of Yukon, Canada, the community of Teslin is a vibrant blend of history, culture, and natural beauty. Known in Tlingit as Desleen, Teslin is home to the Teslin Inland Tlingit First Nations and boasts one of the largest Native populations in Yukon. The community's name, Teslin, is derived from the Tlingit word "Teslintoo."
Teslin is situated at historical Mile 804 on the Alaska Highway, along the picturesque Teslin Lake. The Hudson's Bay Company established a small trading post at Teslin in 1903, known as the Teslin Post. The community's livelihood largely revolves around traditional hunting, trapping, and fishing, preserving the rich heritage of the Teslin Inland Tlingit First Nations.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Village of Teslin had a population of 239 living in 126 of its 144 total private dwellings. This represented a change of -6.3% from its 2016 population of 255. With a land area of 3.77 km2 (1.46 sq mi), the village had a population density of 63.4/km2 (164.2/sq mi) in 2021.
In the same census, Teslin Post 13 had a population of 19 living in 10 of its 11 total private dwellings. This was a change of -36.7% from its 2016 population of 30. With a land area of 1.17 km2 (0.45 sq mi), it had a population density of 16.2/km2 (42.1/sq mi) in 2021.
Teslin is a community rich in culture, divided into two moieties; Wolf and Crow. The Wolf moiety consists of two clans; Eagle (Dakhl'awedi') and Wolf (Yanyedi), while the Crow moiety comprises three clans; Raven's Children (Kukhhittan or Crow), Frog (Ishkitan), and Split tail Beaver (Deshitan). Children are considered born into the mother's clan, and descent is traced through her line.
One notable figure from Teslin is George Johnston (1884–1972), a trapper, photographer, and founder of "Teslin Taxi." Johnston captured the life of the inland Tlingit people of Teslin and Atlin in numerous photos taken between 1910 and 1940. He also brought the first car to Teslin, a 1928 Chevrolet, and built a 3 to 5 mi (4.8 to 8.0 km) road for his "Teslin taxi" before the Alaska Highway was built. The '28 Chevy has been restored and is now on permanent display at the George Johnston Museum in Teslin.
Teslin experiences a dry-summer subarctic climate (Köppen climate classification: Dfc). The summer days are mild with cool nights, while winters are cold and snowy, with an annual snowfall averaging 148.4 cm (58.4 in). Teslin is one of the warmest communities in the Yukon, with a yearly average temperature of −0.6 °C (30.9 °F).
