FOR RELEASE     #05-113
April 28, 2005

WHITEHORSE - Premier Dennis Fentie, Yukon First Nations Grand Chief Eric Morris, and Yukon First Nation chiefs agreed to the draft Yukon Chapter of the Northern Strategy yesterday during a special meeting of the Yukon Forum.

The chapter is a shared vision of the Yukon government and Yukon First Nations, and lays out the actions and initiatives needed to achieve that vision. It was jointly developed by the Yukon and Yukon First Nations, incorporating the views of both orders of government in consideration of the input of many Yukon organizations and individuals who participated in the consultation process.

"This strategy reflects all sectors of Yukon society. It outlines the strategic initiatives that the Yukon and Yukon First Nation governments want to focus on for the coming years to bring real and lasting change to our communities," Fentie said.

"I am very pleased with the rapid progress we have achieved in this collaborative statement of this made in Yukon vision and strategy as our contribution to the national Northern Strategy for Canada. All goals are important now and into the future to advance our individual and shared governmental responsibilities for the benefit of Yukon First Nation citizens and all Yukoners," Morris said.

"The Yukon government committed to fully involve First Nation governments in the Northern Strategy process," Fentie said. "The Yukon Forum model of collaborative governance was a success, and I am confident that in the coming years it will be a vital part of our relationship with Yukon First Nation governments."

The Yukon Forum is a top-level intergovernmental forum consisting of members of the Yukon cabinet and chiefs from all self-governing Yukon First Nations. For this purpose, the Yukon Forum was expanded to include representatives of the Kaska and the Kwanlin Dun First Nation.

Several Yukon First Nation chiefs noted that their contribution to the Northern Strategy has been a positive building block to develop collaborative working relationships with the Yukon government; and they look forward to the results of the implementation of the strategy as soon as the federal budget is passed.

The draft Yukon chapter will now be presented to the federal government for discussion leading to the development of a final Northern Strategy document.

The draft chapter can be accessed from the Yukon government website by visiting http://www.gov.yk.ca/depts/eco/ and looking under publications.

-30-