A river of significance
Mayo is the home of the Northern Tutchone people of Na-Cho Nyäk Dun. In the Northern Tutchone language the Stewart River is called Náhcho Nyäk, meaning Big River. This broad waterway remained almost completely isolated until the discovery of gold brought prospectors upriver in the 1880s.
The First Nation of Na-Cho Nyäk Dun is doing ongoing restoration work at Old Mayo Village, its old village site on the other side of the Stewart River. The Old Village was established by the First Nation people of Nacho Nyäk with the help of a local priest. The Priest asked the First Nation if they would rather have their own village (away from the settlement of Mayo) and where would they like it. A spot was chosen along the banks of the Stewart River. In 1936 the river flooded and destroyed many of the buildings, including the Church and swept away many valuable and sacred possessions of the First Nations people.
The Nacho Nyäk Dun are closely affiliated with other Northern Tutchone First Nations of Selkirk at Pelly Crossing and the Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation at Carmacks.