Building Strong First Nations Relations

If elected, the Yukon Party will work with Yukon First Nation leaders to hold four Yukon Forum meetings each year to re-establish and maintain sound government-to-government relations and discuss and implement shared priorities.

Established in 2005 under the Cooperation in Governance Act, the Yukon Forum is a regular meeting between leaders of the Government of Yukon, Yukon First Nations and the Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN).

“We learned a lot and gleaned important lessons from previous Yukon Party governments and are committed to meaningful engagement with our territory’s Indigenous leadership for a Yukon that truly reflects and respects Yukon First Nation governance, values and priorities,” said Leader Currie Dixon, who is also the party’s candidate for Copperbelt North.

Additional key policy commitments include working with Yukon First Nation governments to jointly develop a multi-year strategic plan and with both Yukon First Nation governments and the Government of Canada to ensure that boards and committees originating from the Umbrella Final Agreement (UFA) – signed by Canada, Yukon and CYFN - are meeting their intended objectives.

The intention is to reach out to Yukon First Nations’ leadership to ideally coordinate one Yukon Forum by the end of this calendar year.

Quotes:

“As a lifelong Yukoner and Carcross/Tagish First Nation citizen, a strong government-to-government relationship is extremely important to me, and Currie’s plan to help achieve this reflects my values.”

• Rose Sellars

Yukon Party Candidate for Riverdale North, who previously served on her First Nation’s General Council for 12 years.

“I have served my First Nation, the Ta’an Kwäch’än Council, as a councillor and know the importance of communications and engagement with the Yukon Government.”

• Doris Anderson

Former Ta’an Kwäch’än Councillor, who previously served on the Assembly of First Nations Women’s Council as Vice Chair. 

“The Yukon Party team is made up of many strong women, and many strong Indigenous women and I want to ensure our perspectives are included as part of a new territorial government so that together, with Yukoners, we can make positive change happen.”

• Sandra Charlie

Yukon Party Candidate for Vuntut Gwitchin and former Vuntut Gwich’in councillor.