Whitehorse (pop. 32,774), on the banks of the historic Yukon River, was named the Yukon's capital in 1953. It is a cultural, transportation and communications centre with a majority of the territorial population. Whitehorse is home to two self-governing First Nations: the Kwanlin Dün and the Ta'an Kwäch'än. Yukon University is based here, and specializes in northern related studies.