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Yukon First Nations leadership and Yukon government leadership meet for 30th Yukon Forum

Monday, 25 November 2024 13:30

By Stuart Bonell @BonellStuart

30th Yukon Forum attendees in Whitehorse (Photo: Submitted by Government of Yukon)

This was the third Yukon Forum of 2024. The last will be the Intergovernmental Forum in Ottawa in December.

Yukon First Nations leadership met with Government of Yukon leadership for the 30^th Yukon Forum on Friday.

The forum discussed conversations and updates regarding community health and wellness, including the implementation of the Substance Use Health Emergency and MMIWG2S+ strategies across the territory.

Speaking with media following the forum, Premier Ranj Pillai said that the discussions were strong, and acknowledged the recent declarations of substance use emergency in Kwanlin Dun First Nation, Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation, and Carcross/Tagish First Nation.

“The items that we touched on today were incredibly heavy items,” said Pillai. “They were difficult items to talk about. Many people in the room have been touched by situations that have happened over the last couple of years.”

“I thought that our morning sessions around these key issues went very well, and I, again, want to thank leaders for making the space to have lots of conversations with our ministers.”

Council of Yukon First Nations Grand Chief Peter Johnston addressed some of his concerns about substance use in the territory, including prevention.

“Rather than reacting to the crisis we’re in, what are we doing to prevent? To ensure the next generation – let alone the ones who haven’t been born yet – what are we doing to ensure that every opportunity is given to have a healthy lifestyle?” said Johnston. “And what does that mean? How do we define that, as well?”

“It is going to be something that we have to look at investing [in] – particularly in education. When I was going through the high school era, if you will, there was the DARE program, which is not being supported to the full extent as it is today.”

Representatives at this Yukon Forum are preparing for a trip to Ottawa for Yukon Days in early December.

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