Premier Pillai meets with leadership from Municipality of Dawson City, Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Government and Selkirk First Nation Government

The Government of Yukon is committed to improving the lives of Yukoners across the territory and believes that to do this, positive, respectful relationships with municipal and First Nations governments are necessary.

During a recent trip to Dawson City to commemorate the 125^th anniversary of the Yukon becoming a territory, Premier Ranj Pillai met with members of the Dawson City Council and Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Government to discuss issues of importance to Dawson City residents and Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in and with a stop in Pelly Crossing to meet with Selkirk First Nation leadership.

On June 13, Premier Pillai met with Dawson City Mayor Bill Kendrick and municipal officials. Topics of discussion included access to housing and lot development, ways the territory and municipality can work collaboratively to support the municipality’s proposal for a new recreation centre, opportunities to attract and retain EMS and nursing professionals, as well as the impacts seen by many in the community following the recent flooding in the Klondike Valley.

Premier Pillai committed to continue having Yukon Government officials work with Dawson City Council and the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Government to collect feedback from residents impacted by flooding and to use this information to inform and improve future emergency responses across the territory.

On June 14, Premier Pillai met with the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Government and with the Selkirk First Nation Government.

While meeting with the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Government, Premier Pillai, Chief Darren Taylor and members of the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Council discussed opportunities for the two governments to work collaboratively on land use planning, successor mining legislation, and strengthening working relationships between Yukon Government’s Tourism and Culture Department and  Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Government culture branch and knowledge keepers.

Premier Pillai offered congratulations to Hähkè Taylor in advance of the July 16 celebration of the 25^th anniversary of Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in self governance and reiterated his support following the signing ceremony for the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Government and the Government of Yukon, which was attended by the Yukon’s Health and Social Services Minister Tracy-Anne McPhee. This MOU provides a framework for both governments to work collaboratively on the implementation and delivery of child and family services for Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Citizens.

Premier Pillai ended the day in Pelly Crossing, where he met with Selkirk First Nation Chief Sharon Nelson and members of Council. They discussed the impacts of resource development projects in their traditional territory and the need for mining companies and investors to build positive, collaborative, and respectful relationships with the community to obtain the social license to operate successfully. Premier Pillai and Chief Nelson also discussed the impacts of the Substance Use Health Emergency in the community and opportunities for increased information and resource sharing to support the response to the crisis. Premier Pillai noted the upcoming 25^th anniversary of the Selkirk First Nation signing their Self-Government and Final Agreements and the historic, positive impacts that these agreements have had on the land and people.