Today, Premier Sandy Silver and his Cabinet, Council of Yukon First Nations Grand Chief Peter Johnston and the Yukon First Nations Chiefs met for the final Yukon Forum of 2021.
The Yukon Forum began with the lighting of a sacred fire at the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre to support healing for communities and families across the territory, lift up leadership and promote strength and safety throughout the upcoming holiday season. Leaders discussed this year's Yukon Days along with ongoing collaborative initiatives.
The Government of Yukon, Council of Yukon First Nations, and Yukon First Nations concluded their annual Yukon Days meetings with federal ministers this week. The multilateral Yukon Days meetings are an opportunity to advance the mutual interests of the Yukon.
The Yukon Days meetings focused on a range of issues, included housing; mental health and addictions; community safety; salmon management; climate change; MMIWG2S+ and LGBTQ2S+ strategies; and Yukon First Nations language revitalization. Ministers and Chiefs also spoke about the future of regional land use planning, development assessment, and clean energy for the Yukon.
The joint Yukon delegation emphasized the importance of respecting Yukon First Nation Final and Self-Government Agreements and making long-term, sustainable investments in areas that support the wellbeing of all Yukoners.
The Yukon Forum was an opportunity to reflect on the Yukon Days meetings as well as discuss the opioid crisis, substance use, mental wellness, housing and the ongoing management of COVID-19 in the Yukon.
Yukon Days is a collaborative made-in-Yukon approach to engagement with the federal government that is helping advance reconciliation. Yukon First Nations and the Government of Yukon have many common priorities and we are far more effective when we work together. Continuing collaboration between all levels of government will help us meet the challenges we collectively face as Yukoners and Canadians. I was pleased to follow up on the Yukon Days conversations at the Yukon Forum, where we continue to collaborate with our First Nations partners on joint priorities to improve the lives of all Yukoners.
Premier Sandy Silver
The Yukon Forum provides a valuable opportunity for Yukon First Nations to engage in discussions with Yukon government and ensure continued progress on critical matters of importance to Yukon First Nations.
Council of Yukon First Nations Grand Chief Peter Johnston
The Yukon Forum is a meeting of the political leaders of the Government of Yukon, Yukon First Nations governments and the Council of Yukon First Nations.
This was the 19th Yukon Forum meeting since signing the Working Together Declaration in January 2017.
The 2021 Yukon Days meetings were held virtually on December 3, 6 and 7, 2021.
The Yukon government and Yukon First Nations work collaboratively on Yukon Days to bring a unified voice for the Yukon’s priorities to the federal government.
The joint Yukon delegation included members of Cabinet, Yukon First Nations Chiefs and officials, and the Council of Yukon First Nations.
Over the course of Yukon Days, members of the joint Yukon delegation met with 14 federal ministers. The Yukon’s Member of Parliament Brendan Hanley also attended a number of the meetings.
Renée Francoeur
Cabinet Communications
867-334-9194
renee.francoeur@yukon.ca
Alexis Miller
Communications, Executive Council Office
867-456-6507
alexis.miller@yukon.ca
Rachel Veinott-McKeough
Communications, Aboriginal Relations
867-471-0811
rachel.veinott-mckeough@yukon.ca
Lael Lund
Communications Manager, Council of Yukon First Nations
867-393-9200 ext. 9223
Communications@cyfn.net