Assembly of First Nations Yukon Regional Summit Held in Dawson City

Monday, 8 July 2019 14:31

The Assembly of First Nations Yukon Regional Summit was held late last month in Dawson City.

The annual Assembly of First Nations Yukon Regional Summit was held late last month in Dawson City. Here are the highlights.

Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Yukon Regional Chief Kluane Adamek says her constituents have a renewed focus for Indigenous issues in the territory after their annual summit was held late last month in Dawson City.

Some of the topics of agenda included strategic priorities of the regional office in Whitehorse moving forward, updates to Indigenous federal legislation across Canada and it's impact on the Yukon, and next steps on a federal election strategy.

Chief Adamek say the federal election strategy being implemented later this month will have a defined target audience.

"Over the last six months, Yukon First Nation leadership, the Council of Yukon First Nations, and the AFN regional office have been working collaboratively to identify and develop a federal election strategy. It will be aimed at getting First Nations and Indigenous people in the Yukon to vote."

Chief Adamek said other focuses at the summit included a resolution to establish an "Emerging Leader and Youth Gathering" conference next summer and to implement a regional "Climate Action Strategy".

Chief Adamek says the 4th annual youth Gathering will have reoccurring themes.

"The youth that have been planning the gathering have talked a lot about (First Nations) language, culture and wellness. That is ensuring to let young people know that they're not alone and that they always have someone to talk to. Those have been some of the emerging themes."

From a climate perspective, Chief Kluane Adamek notes their climate strategy will take into account other climate calls to action already established by other Indigenous leaders in the north.

"With our brothers and sister in Inuit Nunangat, Inuvialuit, Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, Nunavik and Nunatsiavut, there was a climate change strategy developed (in partnership) by the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami. Northern Indigenous peoples have been taking huge and positive steps on this file and we have a lot to learn on this strategy that they've developed."

The Assembly of First Nations Yukon Regions aims to work with all 14 Yukon First nations and advance their own priorities and interests on a national level. AFN Yukon Regional Chief Kluane Adamek is an executive officer of the national organization.

More from CHON-FM Northern News

Whitehorse Emergency Shelter Sees Another Tragic Death, Family Demands Answers

Bailey's biological father also died at the shelter in 2021, and she claims that the shelter's staff provided conflicting accounts of the circumstances surrounding the death of her Step father.
Yukon Risks Blackouts This Winter as Hydro Power Plant Undergoes Repairs

The Aishihik turbine was critically damaged in October, and repair work is not expected to be completed until spring.
Yukon government accused of budgeting interference

Letters from three independent officers of the assembly question Management Board for changing budgets after approval.
Liard First Nation chief has lost confidence, been suspended by his community

LFN citizens who attended a public meeting Tuesday in Watson Lake overwhelmingly sided with the Deputy Chief and Council members who drafted a resolution to have Chief Stephen Charlie suspended from his duties
Liard First Nation Employees Fired After Advocating for Change

Emeral Poppe and Diana Lee Jimmy have been vocal advocates for change within Liard First Nation, raising concerns over transparency.
YFNED kicks off fifth-annual winter hamper program

"We try to support local as much as we can." - YFNED Acting Director of First Nation Initiatives Kim Rumley
Broken generator at Aishihik Generating Station puts pressure on the Yukon's electricity grid

The 12-megawatt generator failed due to a part malfunction, according to the Yukon Energy Corporation
Intergovernmental Forum takes place in Ottawa - not Yukon - for second year running

Forum discussed collaborative approaches to funding the implementation of Final and Self-Government Agreements.
Suspected contamination at the abandoned Wolverine Mine: Yukon government

The Yukon government has been addressing water treatment issues at the site since the mine's abandonment in 2015
Food For Fines Campaign Returns to Whitehors

Eligible tickets include: Expired parking meter fines, and Two-hour zone fines.
Yukon First Nations leadership and Yukon government leadership meet for 30th Yukon Forum

This was the third Yukon Forum of 2024. The last will be the Intergovernmental Forum in Ottawa in December.
Shot in the Dark Productions premiered two films at the Yukon Arts Centre

Shot in the Dark Productions believes puppets can captivate both children and adults, conveying important environmental science themes through entertainment.
Former Connective staff acquitted of sexual assault and exploitation charges

Judge Gurmail Gill found Omale not guilty due to inconsistencies in the complainant's testimony and lack of forensic evidence.
Whitehorse RCMP officers to start using body-worn cameras

The Yukon RCMP adopts body-worn cameras to bolster trust, accountability, and transparency in its community services
Whitehorse Community Thrift Store volunteers stop work following store manager's termination by its board of directors.

Thrift store society founder Karen Weinberg says the manager was fired for raising safety concerns.
Trʼondëk Hwëchʼin, Yukon NDP blast Yukon government for delays in Dawson Regional Land Use Plan

“Every day this plan doesn’t get done is another day of status quo for the mining industry. It’s starting to feel like this is by design.” - Yukon NDP Leader Kate White
Newly elected Whitehorse Mayor and Council sworn into office

Mayor Kirk Cameron and Councillors Anne Middler, Dan Boyd, Lenore Morris, Eileen Melynchuk, Jenny Hamilton, and Paolo Gallina have taken their oaths of office.
2024 Yukon River fall chum salmon run records dismal numbers

The Porcupine River revealed alarmingly low numbers, with 16,275 and 8,368 fish recorded
Trial of Former Connective residential support worker accused of sexually assaulting a vulnerable client commenced in Whitehorse territorial court on Monday.

Omale, 38 has pleaded not guilty to charges of sexual assault and sexual exploitation of a person with a disability stemming from September 2023.
Whitehorse residents join Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition's Actions for Accountability Rally

Dozens of people marked Poverty and Homelessness Accountability week with a walk to the Jim Smith building, where the mother of a homeless man spent the night camping in the parking lot.