1. Case study: Tundra – Old
Crow Flats
Aims: To conduct background research on an issue that could be used
as part of an extended question on Unit 1 exam.

2. Location of Case study
• Old Crow is the
only settlement
in the northern
part of the
Yukon
• The only way to
reach it is by air
or Canoe (along
the Porcupine
River)

3. Landscape
• Describe this scene
• Given it’s
geographic location,
explain why water
does not easily drain
away here.
• Beneath 50cm deep
the soil never thaws
as it is impermeable
(frozen)
• Peat forms on the
surface

4. Inhabitants – The Vuntut
Gwitchin
• Means ‘The people
of the Lakes’
• Rely on hunting,
trapping and
collecting fruit
and berries.
• Now using modern
methods and
settled but
essentially living
the same life as
their ancestors

5. The Porcupine Caribou herd
• Spring: migrate north to coastal
Yukon plains and North east Alaska
(Easy to spot predators)
• Winter: migrate south
• The Vuntut Gwitchin settled on
the Porcupine river which is their
crossing point during migration

6. Why is there less 15-24 year olds in
Old crow than other age groups?
• What do you think?
• To encourage development in Old
crow the government opened a Gravel
quarry in 2003 to increase jobs and
money in the area
• However, without a road link,
development will be slow

7. Task
• To enable you to gain high marks on
extended questions, you must know
case study information in depth.
• Fill in the sheet provided with detail
from your textbook.
• You will need to feedback your
comments to the group.

8. Homework
• Go to the websites on the link on page
72
• You need to produce evidence of
background research into the case
study on:
• The difficulties faced by the Caribou
Herds
• The lifestyle of the Vuntut Gwitchin