Leaders meet for the first Yukon Forum of 2022

Today, Premier Sandy Silver and his Cabinet, Council of Yukon First Nations Grand Chief Peter Johnston and the Yukon First Nations Chiefs met in-person and virtually at the Carcross/Tagish Learning Centre for the first Yukon Forum of 2022.

Discussions included the substance use health emergency in the territory, the Putting People First plan, community safety and restorative justice, and updates to the Child and Family Services Act. Leaders acknowledged the significance of the establishment of the Yukon First Nation School Board and also spoke about youth involvement across the territory.

At the start of 2022, the Government of Yukon approved funding for a Community Safety Planning program to support community designed and led safety initiatives. Leaders took the opportunity today to discuss programs and activities that could be supported under the program to ensure it meets the needs of residents to feel safer in their communities.

Leaders discussed the amendments to the Child and Family Services Act which will be tabled in the Legislative Assembly this spring. The work on the amendments was a truly collaborative process and clarifies the government’s commitment to reconciliation and addressing the overrepresentation of Indigenous children involved in child welfare.

Cheyenne Bradley from Communities Building Youth Futures and Lindsey Cornell from the Boys and Girls Club Yukon provided an update to leaders on the upcoming Youth Summit being held March 21 to March 25 in partnership with youth-serving organizations from around the territory. There was also an opportunity for an open conversation about youth involvement, which included climate change and mental health and substance use awareness.

Leaders also had the chance to debrief phase one of the Mental Wellness Summit where those with lived experience were able to share their perspectives on the pressing issues and needs of the communities.