White River First Nation COVID-19 Press Release

Tuesday, 31 March 2020 17:36

White River First Nation ("WRFN") in Beaver Creek Yukon is seeking a shutdown of mining activity during the State of Emergency to protect the health of Elders and the most vulnerable in Yukon society.

White River First Nation Chief Demit said in a statement, "In order to protect Elders, we cannot have people from out of Territory entering on charter flights exposing their potential illness to Yukoners."

White River First Nation Lands Director Janet VanderMeer is responsible for overseeing execution of the Lands Office COVID-19 response.

She said, "WRFN seeks assurances from Premier Silver that all staking, permitting and exploration activity in WRFN Traditional Territory will he suspended during this Emergency. People are rightly focused on public safety and not permit application responses during this crisis."

Chief Demit said, "We realize this Emergency is creating hardship for workers and businesses, but we all must do the tough work together now to eradicate it, so that it does not last longer and become more dangerous."

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