Fifty years after Indigenous leaders made a trip to meet with then-prime minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau and deliver the document Together Today for Our Children Tomorrow, which kicked off the modern treaty process in the Yukon, the heads of Yukon First Nation governments gathered again in Ottawa.
For the first time, leaders representing Yukon First Nations, the Yukon and Canada met at the Intergovernmental Forum in Canada’s capital. The Yukon leaders also held the 28th Yukon Forum, without the feds, while in Ontario.
During a press conference following the tripartite forum on Dec. 4, Grand Chief Peter Johnston of the Council of Yukon First Nations and Premier Ranj Pillai addressed reporters via videoconference. They talked about advancing a new Yukon First Nations-led healing centre to be erected in Whitehorse.
Johnston told reporters the facility will house six immediate beds and 20 long-term beds. He noted that the reality in downtown Whitehorse is that the majority of potential clients struggle with homelessness.
Anticipated cost and timelines for the facility were not provided.
Johnston indicated the involved parties had signed a letter of intent.
“It allows us now to not only plan but also gives us that ability to alleviate some of the pressures we feel in the downtown. It’s sad to see,” Johnston said.
The letter of intent focuses on entering an “exploratory discussion” to move the project forward, according to Yukon government cabinet communications.
Pillai told reporters that the Yukon government was “happy to support the model” brought forward by the Council of Yukon First Nations. He thanked Johnston for leading the way on looking at what the premier described as a new detox and treatment centre in Whitehorse.
“This is really going to be a really significant piece of infrastructure for the Yukon. It’s something that’s decades in the making,” Pillai said while also noting federal leadership on this file.
“We look forward to them putting the proper resources behind this so we can get a centre of this type built in Whitehorse.”
The tripartite group also discussed justice matters like community policing, according to Pillai. He said attendees talked about land-use planning, emergency preparedness and the declining salmon stock, as well as the “importance of language and cultural revitalization.”
“It is through meetings like this that we are working together to ensure that federal programs and services meet the unique needs of Yukoners and continue to advance reconciliation in the Yukon’s modern treaty context,” the premier said.
On Dec. 4, Pillai also met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Per Pillai’s team, the two discussed health-care transfer agreements, addressing the demand for affordable housing and Arctic security, noting the need for investments in dual-use and energy infrastructure in the next federal budget. Health and tourism were also on the agenda, among other things.
Following the federal government’s recent fall economic update, Pillai had expressed disappointment in the lack of new money for constructing key infrastructure. On previous trips to the capital, for example, Pillai has pushed the feds to invest in the territory’s electrical system and roads.
In an interview on Dec. 5, Pillai said they looked towards what the next infrastructure program from Canada might look like. He didn’t get any indication whether money will flow in the spring budget or be released the following year.
“Even though we’ve had record investment into our communities throughout rural Yukon and Whitehorse and with our First Nation governments, we still know that there’s great interest for additional infrastructure spending,” Pillai said.
In an online statement, Trudeau’s team indicated the prime minister and the premier talked about investing in critical infrastructure, building more homes faster and the importance of the Arctic to Canadian security. “Clean electricity projects” intended to allow the Yukon to “develop its critical minerals and enhance energy security” were also discussed.
According to a statement from cabinet communications, the remainder of Pillai’s trip will consist of delivering a keynote speech at the Indo-Pacific Strategy Forum and meetings with a delegation of European Union ambassadors. Pillai and his cabinet colleagues will also continue to meet with federal counterparts, like ministers and parliamentary secretaries.
Contact Dana Hatherly at dana.hatherly@yukon-news.com