Gadzoosdaa Student Residence       

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The Gadzoosdaa Student Residence was officially opened by the
Honourable Piers McDonald, Minister or Education, October 4th, 1990.
The Gadzoosdaa Student Residence is named in recognition of
the many contributions made by Mrs. Virginia Smarch.

Yak’éi haat yigoodí!
~ It is good that you have come! Tlingit

Elder Virginia Smarch
Virginia Smarch, who in Tlingit was affectionately known as
Gadzoosdaa, was a distinguished Elder of the Teslin Tlingit Council
(Eagle Clan) and was the first teacher of the Tlingit language in the
Teslin School. Over the years, she gave
generously of herself to act as interpreter at meetings and
to speak at gatherings of young people. Above all,
Virginia Smarch was a superb teller of legends, complementing
her stories with appropriate lessons and insights for present
day conditions and the younger generation.