Premier Dixon and Governor Dunleavy sign renewed Alaska-Yukon Intergovernmental Accord

Premier Currie Dixon and Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy met in Anchorage, Alaska, during the fifth annual Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference where they discussed shared northern energy priorities and the Arctic’s growing strategic importance.

During the conference, they signed a renewed Alaska-Yukon Intergovernmental Relations Accord to support continued collaboration and friendship between their governments.

Both Premier Dixon and Governor Dunleavy emphasized the close, longstanding relationship between Alaska and the Yukon, including cross-border family and friendship connections, enduring ties among Indigenous communities and a shared commitment to cooperation on infrastructure, trade and investment, fish and wildlife and wildland fire response. Premier Dixon also expressed his appreciation for Alaska’s support for critical maintenance work on the Shakwak Highway.

During their meeting, the Premier and Governor agreed to remain in close contact. They discussed opportunities to further collaborate in key areas, including: the Shakwak Highway and cross-border infrastructure; addressing the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit+ People / Missing and Murdered Indigenous People; energy cooperation; and mining and critical minerals.

Alaska and the Yukon agreed to establish new working groups to support bilateral cooperation, including an Alaska-Yukon Arctic Dialogue and a Northern Transportation Engineering Initiative. They also agreed to:

• deepen working-level cooperation on Yukon River salmon to support rebuilding efforts;
• promote trade and investment between Alaska and the Yukon, including opportunities for closer ties between Indigenous communities and corporations;
• share information and coordinate on port priorities;
• support cross-border tourism;
• continue cooperation on wildland fire response;
• identify opportunities for collaboration in health and education; and
• explore additional areas of collaboration, including cross-border wildlife like the Fortymile Caribou Herd.

Alaska and the Yukon reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening their bilateral relationship as close neighbours.