Collyne Amanda Bunn Yeilt’óoch’ Tláa
Collyne Amanda Bunn was born on June 5, 1951, in Vancouver, British Columbia. Her early years were shaped by travel, as the family moved frequently for her father’s work. For a period, her cousins lived with the family, adding to the warmth and energy of her childhood home.
As a teenager, Collyne went to live with her Auntie Minnie on Haida Gwaii. Later she maintained her connection when Minnie relocated to Teslin. It was in Teslin that Collyne first connected deeply with the Teslin people, their language and culture—an influence that would shape the course of her life and work.
Collyne attended the University of British Columbia, where she earned her Bachelor degree and Teaching Certificate. She returned to the Yukon to teach, working in Carmacks, Mayo, the Native Language Centre and Teslin. In 1990, Collyne attended the Alberta College of Art. She returned to teaching in Haines Junction in 1991. There she taught Grade 5/6 at St. Elias Community School and began the most cherished chapter of her life—becoming a mother. She adopted her sons Joseph and later Daniel, raising them in a cozy home she had built on a quiet country lot with the support of dear friends and her close-knit community.
While she always kept strong ties to Teslin, Collyne and her family eventually moved to Whitehorse in 2006 and purchased her home on Finch Crescent in 2008. She continued to substitute teach and worked at the Yukon Native Language Centre, deepening her lifelong commitment to the Tlingit language.
In 2019, Collyne joined a dedicated group of Tlingit language learners known as the NERDZ who first met online and later gathered in person. This group was invited to Outer Coast, an undergraduate institution in Sitka, Alaska, where Collyne began teaching and contributing to the revitalization of the Tlingit language. Her work and research will be lovingly preserved at Outer Coast for future generations.
Collyne embraced the ancestry of both of her sons and herself—she was proud of her Métis and Coast Salish heritage and honoured the Tlingit lineage that had shaped her life’s passion. She was given a Tlingit name, Yeilt’óoch’ Tláa, meaning “Black Raven Mother” in recognition of her devotion to the language and culture, and was adopted into the Kooḵhíttaan Crow clan.
Collyne faced her battle with pancreatic cancer with quiet strength and unwavering grace. She passed away peacefully on May 9, 2025, with her family by her side. Collyne was predeceased by her parents, John Arthur and Ivy Pearl, and her brother Ron. She is lovingly remembered by her sons Joseph and Daniel, her “son little son” Matthew Maachik Spellberg, her sister Patricia “Trish,” and many close friends and extended family.
The family extends heartfelt thanks to her support team of friends and loved ones, and to the compassionate staff at Wind River Hospice. In accordance with Collyne’s wishes, there will be no formal funeral or celebration of life. She asked instead to be remembered through shared stories, drumming, and song in intimate gatherings—just as she lived, grounded in community, connection, and love.
Billie (Beth) Ellis
My heart goes out to Collyne’s family at this difficult time. I came to know Collyne in 1985 when I worked as a teacher’s aide in Collyne’s split grade 3/4 classroom in the Teslin school. I soon came to recognize what a special person Collyne was. I was a first hand witness to the special bond she had with these kids. It was amazing. Every single child was special to Collyne. I learned so much from her. I know she has positively influenced probably hundreds or nore young lives through her teaching. I am so sorry Collyne has left us so early. She will be dearly missed by many.
Nancy Pluim (Roberts) yes
Colleen was my last teacher in Mayo, before I moved out of the Yukon. I have a photo of her & I. It was taken a day before I left Mayo. She was a wonderfulteacher. So loving towards her students. condolences to her boys and family.
Robin Fisher
I have only recently learned of Collyne’s passing and I send my sympathy to her family and community. I just want to write to you all that, when Collyne was a student at UBC, she worked closely with the anthropologist, Wilson Duff. I spent time with Collyne when I was working on a biography of Wilson and she was a huge help. Wilson Duff said that Collyne was the best student that he had at UBC. Her passing is, in one way, a loss but at the same time she is neither gone nor forgotten.
Marusia Heney
We are ever so saddened to hear of Collyne’s death. She was a wonderful neighbour, friend, teacher and cheerleader. I learned so much from her as a young mum, hearing so many of her wonderful stories. She was beyond lovely to my children and welcomed my youngest when he turned her snowbanks into ski jumps and set up bike jumps in her driveway. She taught us all about gardening and included our kids in her raspberry harvest. To this day, Collyne’s raspberry jam is the standard to which all other jams are measured. Collyne, you are missed. Hugs to Daniel and Joseph in this time.
Laurena O'Brien
Thanks Nancy for letting me know about Ms. Bunn. My sister Nancy and I had her as a teacher in Mayo Yukon she was so nice to us. She would teach us to respect people and the land and learn all we could about our nationality and culture. I still have a book I painted and wrote about a wolf in the Native language. I still have it til this day. She was an amazing loving person who will be remembered and honored.
I have missed her since leaving the Yukon, she tried to stay in touch writing a few times.
Sending prayers and love to her family.