This is a joint news release between the Government of Canada, the Government of Yukon, Yukon First Nations, and the Council of Yukon First Nations.
Fifty years ago, Yukon First Nations leaders travelled to Ottawa to meet with then Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau and deliver an approach that would change nation-to-nation relationships with the Government of Canada. The ground-breaking document Together Today for our Children Tomorrow was the start of the Modern Treaty process in the Yukon. Today, Yukon First Nations leaders again gather in Ottawa, as heads of their elected governments, to meet on a government-to-government basis with Yukon and Canada.
Leaders representing Yukon First Nations, the Yukon, and Canada met at the Intergovernmental Forum in Ottawa to advance common priorities including affordable housing, homelessness, health and mental wellness, land use planning, language revitalization, emergency preparedness, financial agreement renewals, and declining salmon stocks.
Attendees included Yukon First Nations Chiefs and leaders, the Council of Yukon First Nations Grand Chief Peter Johnston, Yukon Premier Ranj Pillai and Yukon Ministers, the Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs, Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency; the Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations; and the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services.
Since its inception in 2002, the Intergovernmental Forum was established to help strengthen relationships and discuss the implementation of Yukon First Nation Final and Self-Government Agreements and issues of mutual concern.
We respect and understand Indigenous leaders and communities know best what they need, and we are committed to being there to support them.
Today, the Council of Yukon First Nations, the Government of Yukon, and the Government of Canada have signed a trilateral Letter of Intent to confirm their commitment to collectively work toward construction and operation of a Yukon First Nations led Healing Centre.
