Yukon Forum takes steps toward redressing the harms of residential schools and advancing reconciliation

Joint news release with the Council of Yukon First Nations and Yukon First Nations governments.

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

Leaders agreed that addressing the opioid crisis is an urgent and important matter, and they discussed how they can work together to make communities throughout the territory safer. They also discussed the First Nation Government's Burial Investigation Committee, which will guide the research and investigation of potential burial sites around former residential schools in the Yukon. The Yukon government committed to working with the Committee and all Yukon First Nations that wish to conduct searches or other work at former residential school sites.

Leaders had a wide-ranging conversation about the Yukon government’s approach to reconciliation. The meeting also provided the opportunity to share and highlight successful collaborative initiatives aimed at advancing reconciliation.

A number of other issues were also discussed during the Forum, including the ongoing efforts to manage COVID-19 and protect the health and safety of Yukoners, collaborative initiatives to improve the territory's education system, and the upcoming Yukon Days meetings with the Government of Canada.