Our Ceremonial Antler

The thirteen carved areas represent our thirteen campuses. The tines represent the flow of students, research and knowledge in and out of the institution.

The space between carvings represent knowledge yet to be discovered, awaiting only curiosity and a little hard work.

The caribou are an important symbol in many Yukon communities. The herd is both resilient and fragile. If the leaders are disturbed, the caribou behind will stray from the traditional migration route, even heading back to where they started. As the herd arrives, people are cautioned to “Let the Leaders Pass”. Held high in procession, the Ceremonial Antler conjures a majestic caribou leading its herd.

During convocation, our graduates are the leaders, migrating from learning to doing, and showing future students, future generations, the right path.

YukonU's Ceremonial Antler was carved by Shane Wilson from a naturally-dropped rack, and donated to Yukon University by Jacqueline Bedard. Thank you to Lucy-Anne Kay, from Fort McPherson, NWT, for sharing her cultural story and developing the vision behind the Ceremonial Antler.

The Presidential Regalia

The Presidential Regalia for Yukon University were designed in-house and in consultation with the Office of First Nation’s Initiatives. The Regalia includes a robe, cap and stole. The bold purple is Yukon University’s primary colour and captures the power and the presence of the crocus flower, the symbol of the University and the influence behind the logo design. The gown is adorned by silver plating at its opening and silk lining within its sleeves. The sleeves are also accentuated by velvet chevrons, which are symbolic to academic regalia, with four chevrons, representative of the position of president. The cap is styled as the traditional Tudor Bonnet, in purple velvet that matches the velvet of the chevrons. The President’s cap is adorned by a silver tassel, that is worn to the left side of the cap.

The stole is adorned by traditional Yukon First Nations beadwork and was commissioned to be worn on the outside of a Yukon University robe. It was created in Yukon University colours by Vashti Etzel, a Shutuh/ Kaska Dene artist from Ross River, Yukon.

The image on the left of the stole was chosen to represent the beauty of Yukon mountains and northern lights. In First Nation culture, the northern lights are believed to be “our ancestors dancing above us.” The right image represents Yukon wildflowers - purple lupine and harebells that are scattered across the territory. The stole incorporates a variety of seed beads, glass cut beads, charlotte cut beads, laborite gemstones, malachite gemstones, amethyst gemstones, crystal beads, dyed porcupine quills, dyed caribou hair, stroud and satin fabric.