Since the current MLA won’t be seeking a seat again, a longtime First Nations leader has announced she intends to seek the Yukon Party nomination for Porter Creek North in the territorial elections that have yet to be called.
The Yukon Party announced Doris Anderson’s intentions via press release.
The release highlights Anderson’s time as president of the Yukon Aboriginal Women’s Council, vice-chair of the Assembly of First Nations Women’s Council, and in executive positions with the Ta’an Kwäch’än Council.
“I strongly feel this is where I can contribute and complement the Yukon Party’s efforts, from a good place in a good way with the values and perspectives of someone who belongs to this land and has lived through its passage in history,” Anderson is quoted saying in the release.
“I can answer this call to serve the Yukon, acknowledging the valuable contributions of those before us and those here to inform our decisions while making space to ensure future generations will have this place to call home.”
Anderson is a First Nation citizen from Ta’an Kwäch’än Council (Lake Laberge).
She grew up in Whitehorse and has two children and three grandchildren.
Anderson currently sits on two school councils, according to the release. Having previously served with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles, she is a member of the Royal Canadian Legion. Prior to moving back to the Yukon, she lived in Alberta, Ontario and New Brunswick with her husband.
She aims to represent “not only First Nations but all Yukoners” in the legislature, as noted in the release.
The party shares many of her values, she said.
Anderson was one of 125 Yukoners awarded the Yukon 125 anniversary medal. According to a brief bio about her award, Anderson has been recognized as a community leader on the missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people plus others movement (MMIWG2S+).
She was a member of the Yukon Advisory Committee on MMIWG2S+ and another committee tasked with reporting on the Yukon Child and Family Services Act. The former committee came up with a Yukon-specific strategy in response to the national inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls final report.
Anderson is currently listed as the Yukon First Nation business registry manager on the Yukon First Nations Chamber of Commerce website.
Current Yukon Party MLA for Porter Creek North Geraldine Van Bibber announced earlier this week she won't be running again.
The territorial elections are set to take place on or before Nov. 3, 2025, per legislation.
Contact Dana Hatherly at dana.hatherly@yukon-news.com
