Adeline Webber also became Vice-Prior of the territory's St. John Council.
The Commissioner of Yukon was appointed to the Order of St. John on Wednesday.
Commissioner Adeline Webber, a member of Teslin Tlingit Nation, received her appointment as Dame of Justice of the Order by Chancellor Dr. André Levesque at Taylor House in Whitehorse, where she also accepted the role of Vice-Prior of the St. John Council in the Yukon.
Webber said she was honoured to be recognized and accept her new role, and is excited to get started.
“I’m just looking forward to meeting the other membership and talking to them about some of the issues they’ve been working on,” said Webber. “Things that they have been involved with; and seeing if we can work together to make the job a little easier.
“And, as a person now that has more responsibility, I need to find out what’s important to everyone.”
Webber has been Commissioner of Yukon since May 31, 2023, but she’s no stranger to leadership roles. She founded what became the Whitehorse Aboriginal Women’s circle in 1974, advocated for the finalization of the Teslin Tlingit Council Final and Self-Government Agreements in 1993, and was appointed Administrator of Yukon Territory in 2018. Webber says that being involved in the community is a responsibility.
“I think leadership by First Nation people is really important,” said Webber. “To get out there and get involved in the community; not just your own community, but the entire community. Because, you know, we’re all neighbours.”
“We’re Yukoners working together and I think it’s important for us to get involved in anything at all that’s important to the community.”
The Order of St. John was established in 1888 by Queen Victoria as a charitable organization that supports St. John Ambulance’s mission to improve health, safety, and quality of life in Canada. The Order’s motto reads Pro Fide Pro Utilitate Hominum, which translates to For Faith in the Service of Humanity.