The Deputy Premier and Minister responsible for the Women and Gender Equity Directorate Jeanie McLean welcomed new business signatories to the Yukon’s MMIWG2S+ strategy as part of an event to mark International Women’s Day on March 8.
The Celebration of Entrepreneurship, co-hosted with Decora and CSR Management, was an opportunity to recognize the successes of local women in business and to reflect on how the business sector can support the work of the MMIWG2S+ strategy and implementation plan.
Minister McLean gave a presentation to local women in business on Changing the Story to Upholding Dignity and Justice: Yukon’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit+ People Strategy and highlighted business-related milestones in the strategy’s implementation plan.
Yukon Advisory Committee on MMIWG2S+ co-chair Doris Bill and member Amanda Buffalo attended the event and joined the Minister in witnessing local women business leaders and entrepreneurs sign the strategy’s declaration.
The businesses that became signatories to the Yukon’s MMIWG2S+ declaration included: Decora, CSR Management, Alkan Air, Whitehorse Motors Ltd., unorthodox Yukon, FawkesTrot Adventures, Bon.D Jewelry Services, Spin YT and Luxe 360. Yukonstruct, a Whitehorse-based not-for-profit, also signed. These organizations join many partners who have previously signed on, including governments, non-profit and community organizations and businesses.
I was inspired to meet with these amazing women in business and to see them eager to learn about the Yukon’s MMIWG2S+ strategy and the role they can play in supporting systemic change. There truly is a place for all Yukoners in this strategy and I am heartened to have these business leaders join us in this work to achieve dignity and justice for the Yukon’s Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit+ people.
Yukon’s MMIWG2S+ strategy has the potential to make transformative change for our territory’s Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit+ people. But the changes ahead require collaboration and shared effort. I am incredibly grateful to have these leaders from the business community become signatories to the strategy and commit to doing what they can to support the work ahead.
I am honoured to stand alongside these incredible women in business as we commit to supporting Yukon’s MMIWG2S+ strategy. Through collaboration, we can work towards transformative change, uphold dignity, and ensure economic empowerment for Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit+ people in our territory. We recognize and champion the critical importance of investing in women and girls and our joint commitment and shared efforts will create safer communities, foster inclusive opportunities and promote prosperity.
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The MMIWG2S+ declaration acknowledges the commitment of Yukon Indigenous survivors and families in pursuing justice and dignity for MMIWG2S+ people. It also commits signatories to take action on the strategy’s implementation, ending violence and being accountable to families and survivors.
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Signatories to the strategy’s declaration include Indigenous women’s organizations, Yukon First Nations governments, the Government of Canada, the Government of Yukon, Indigenous organizations, Yukon municipalities and more.
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The Yukon Advisory Committee on MMIWG2S+ is co-chaired by Deputy Premier Jeanie McLean, representing the Government of Yukon, Doris Bill, representing Yukon First Nations and Ann Maje Raider, representing Indigenous women’s organizations.
Laura Seeley
Cabinet Communications
867-332-7627
laura.seeley@yukon.ca
Odile Nelson
Women and Gender Equity Directorate
867-334-8235
odile.nelson@yukon.ca