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.