Dawson Regional Land Use Planning Commission formed

The Government of Yukon and Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in have formed the new Dawson Regional Land Use Planning Commission. The Yukon and Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in governments each nominated three people to the six-person Commission in accordance with the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Final Agreement.

The new Commission will develop a plan for future land use in the region with assistance from the Yukon Land Use Planning Council. The Commission’s work will be guided by the Terms of Reference agreed to by the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in and Yukon governments.

The Commission will engage with the public and work with the Yukon and Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in governments to develop a regional land use plan for Settlement Land and Non-Settlement Land that achieves the objectives of Chapter 11 of the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Final Agreement.

The Yukon government is committed to working in collaboration with First Nation governments to advance land use planning in the territory. We are pleased that the Dawson Regional Land Use Planning Commission has been formed and look forward to the development of a land use plan that reflects the values of Yukoners and provides guidelines and policies to minimize land use conflicts in the Dawson region. 

Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources Ranj Pillai

This is about providing certainty for the planning region and should have been completed following the signing of our agreements. A lot of the Dawson Regional Land Use Planning has been dictated by activities over the past few decades. We hope to ensure the plan will incorporate all of our past values and traditional uses as well as certainty for future values and objectives of the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in agreements. We look forward to the Commission getting started on this important Final Agreement requirement.

Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Chief Roberta Joseph

The Council is very excited that the Dawson Regional Planning Commission will be completing a plan for the Dawson region. We look forward to assisting the Commission through its training and plan creation. Regional planning reduces conflict between land uses, creates certainty about the future of the land and advances reconciliation between governments.

Yukon Land Use Planning Council Chair Pearl Callaghan

Quick facts 
  • The new members of the Dawson Regional Planning Commission include:

    • Alice McCulley
    • Angie Joseph-Rear
    • Art Webster
    • Dan Reynolds
    • Debbie Nagano
    • John Flynn
  • The Yukon Land Use Planning Council will help train and orient the new members. The Council will also provide technical support in the development of the recommended plan.

  • The target date for the Commission’s recommended plan is in the first half of 2020.

Media contact 

Janine Workman
Cabinet Communications
867-393-7449
[email protected]

Elaine Corden
Communications, Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in
867-993-7100, extension 136
[email protected]

Sue Thomas
Communications, Energy, Mines and Resources
867-667-5809
[email protected]

Ron Cruikshank
Director, Yukon Land Use Planning Council
867-667-7397
[email protected]

News release #: 
19-035