Marilyn Jensen, Yadultin, Dūsts’ā̀dle and Shaawát goox is Inland Tlingit and Tagish Khwáan from the Carcross/Tagish First Nation; belonging to the Dakhl’aweidí Clan under the Tagish Keét Hít (Killerwhale House) in the Southern Yukon Territory. She is founder and a lead dancer of the Dakhká Khwáan Dancers, which is the context I first got to know her in. She created and facilitates Lateral Kindness workshops with co-creator Thomas Sheppard that have been extremely popular and well-received in the north. Marilyn lives with her family in Whitehorse and among her large extended relatives across the Yukon Territory.

Marilyn and I met at the Atlin Music Festival in northern BC in 2017 and became “besties” immediately. We’ve collaborated on writing a very special song to honour her mother, Guna, and also on the lyrics for a song called ‘Two Journey Together’ from my River of Tears album. The podcast music was taken from that recording!

Gunalchéesh, Marilyn!

We recorded our conversation in Ottawa on December 3, 2021.

Follow Marilyn at https://www.instagram.com/tlingit_drummer

Follow the Dakhká Khwáan Dancers at https://www.instagram.com/dakhkakhwaan

Follow the Lateral Kindness Movement at https://www.instagram.com/lateral_kindness