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Order of Yukon Recipients Named

Monday, 2 December 2019 16:50

Order of Yukon Pin to be awarded to recipients (Image courtesy Commissioner of Yukon)

First Nations recipients are heavily featured in the inaugural Order of Yukon awards this year.

First Nations recipients are heavily featured in the inaugural Order of Yukon awards this year.   The list of the ten upcoming recipients was released on Friday by commissioner Angelique Bernard, and the awards will be presented at the annual New Year’s Levee on January 1.   The order of the Yukon is a new honour that recognizes Yukoner’s that have demonstrated high achievement and made outstanding contribution to society.

The recipients are

  • Doug Bell, former commissioner of Yukon;
  • Ione Christensen, former commissioner and Yukon senator;
  • Patricia Ellis, artist and author;
  • Judy Gingell, former commissioner and chair of the Council for Yukon Indians;
  • Percy Henry, respected elder and former Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in chief;
  • Gary Hewitt, long time Arctic Winter Games volunteer and official;
  • Rolf Hougen, businessman and philanthropist;
  • Dave Joe, lawyer and former chief land claims negotiator for the Council of Yukon First Nations;
  • Sam Johnston, former MLA and chief of the Teslin Tlingit Council; and
  • Lyall Murdoch, co-founder of the Frantic Follies.

The order of Yukon, was first instituted in 2018 and is the highest honour bestowed by the government of Yukon.  This is the first year that the Order of Yukon is being awarded.    The Yukon is the last jurisdiction in Canada to institute awards of this type, and according to Andrew Cook, of the Commissioners Office, it was simply time to start recognising the important work that Yukoners are doing in their jobs, government and community as a whole.

Anyone can nominate someone for this award as long as the nominee is a Canadian citizen who has been or still is a long time Yukoner.  Cook encourages folks to go ahead and nominate prospective awardees for next years awards, saying they don’t necessarily need to be someone that has been serving the community for decades, but anyone who is an important community figure.    He also encourages Yukoner’s to come out to the awards ceremony on January 1st, at the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre.

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