Community safety, health and wellness were the key items of discussion as territorial government and Yukon First Nations representatives met for the third Yukon Forum gathering of the year. Specific topics were implementation of strategies on the substance-use health emergency and missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people (MMIWG2S+).
Premier Ranj Pillai and Council of Yukon First Nations Grand Chief Peter Johnston spoke with reporters after the day’s discussions on Nov. 22.
Pillai described the day’s topics as “heavy” in opening remarks but Johnston described everyone leaving the meetings in good spirits and satisfied with the outcomes.
Johnston said the discussions will be important to defining priorities ahead of Yukon Days in Ottawa, where leaders from the territory will meet with federal ministers. Among the discussions he said he is interested in having in Canada's capital is an update on the treatment facility in the Yukon that the federal government committed to supporting in a letter of intent signed at the Yukon Days in 2023.
Speaking to investment and progress on the substance-use front, Pillai said 35 applications from First Nations governments and organizations have been funded for approximately $3 million assisting programs including land-based treatment.
Johnston stressed the importance of public education when gauging progress on the substance-use emergency. He said he isn’t fully satisfied with how this is progressing but did note the signs speaking to the emergency set up by some Yukon First Nations in their communities.
Pillai said 13 overdose deaths were reported in 2024, down from last year’s total, leading to less Yukon families missing someone around the table over the holidays. Despite the lower total, the premier was not triumphal.
“I think that, of course, nobody's going to be feeling a sense of success if you're even losing one person. So, that's what we know going into the Christmas season," he said.
"But we also know that there's been lots of warnings put out around toxic drugs, and so what we say to all Yukoners is please, especially at this time of year, reach out to friends and family members that you know that are having challenges, support them and understand that this is an incredibly difficult time for many Yukoners."
Regarding work on the MMIWG2S+ strategy, Pilliai said good steps are being taken but there are years of work to come. He added that it’s important that the work being done in the Yukon is communicated in Ottawa and that the federal ministers responsible for areas of it are clear on their responsibilities.
Johnston said all levels of government from municipalities up must be invested in the strategy to ensure a holistic approach.
The speakers at the Yukon Forum press conference noted that it was the last day on the job for Yukon RCMP chief superintendent Scott Sheppard and that he was on hand at the forum representing the RCMP.
Pillai and Johnston both offered Sheppard their thanks at the press conference, speaking favourably about his leadership and willingness to have candid conversations on topics like RCMP resources. Johnston said he has asked to provide input on the new leader of the RCMP division policing the Yukon and Pillai said he hopes Sheppard’s replacement can bring good continuity to the role without the need for a long education process.
Contact Jim Elliot at jim.elliot@yukon-news.com
