Government of Yukon

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YG cyfn

FOR RELEASE     #07-224
October 19, 2007

Yukon Forum Confirms Commitment to Work Together

WHITEHORSE – At today's Yukon Forum, First Nation governments and the Yukon government met to discuss the implementation reviews of the final and self-government agreements and to approve the latest projects under the Northern Strategy Trust Fund.

Premier Dennis Fentie and Council of Yukon First Nations Grand Chief Andy Carvill agreed to work together to ensure that Canada's commitment to implementing the self-government agreements is honoured.

The first seven Yukon First Nations to sign self-government agreements, Yukon and Canada together have completed the lengthy process of reviewing the Yukon First Nation Financial Transfer Agreement and the Yukon First Nation Implementation Arrangements. This work is being complemented by further assessment of the Yukon First Nation financial base.

These reviews produced a number of significant recommendations that now are in the hands of the three signatories to these agreements.

Carvill and Fentie agreed that the Yukon and First Nations are committed to addressing these issues in a timely and collaborative manner, and will seek the commitment of Canada to join them in this process.

The Yukon Forum approved 39 projects valued at $15.8 million under the Northern Strategy Trust Fund. The approved projects cover a wide range of initiatives in the areas of economic development, environment, healthy and safe communities, education and training, culture, science and research.

"This is an example of Yukon and First Nation governments working together to foster economic and social development resulting in tangible improvements in the lives of Yukoners and their communities," Fentie said. 

"First Nation governments are pleased that a significant number of their proposals received approval," Carvill said. "These projects will help First Nation governments move forward in a number of key areas, as well as help them build capacity and develop expertise."

Under the Northern Strategy framework, approved by the Yukon Forum, First Nation governments and Yukon government departments are eligible to submit project proposals for funding. Third parties, such as non-government organizations, are free to bring project proposals forward to Yukon and First Nation governments to ask them to champion their proposals. 

Last year, 17 projects valued at just over $9 million were approved. The Yukon Forum has until 2008 to spend the approximately $15 million remaining in the fund.  The date for the next round of proposals will be announced soon.

The Yukon Forum agreed to meet in the near future to discuss next steps in approaching Canada on the need to continue the Northern Strategy program.

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Below:  List of projects approved for Northern Strategy Trust funding.

 

Contact:  
Roxanne Vallevand
Cabinet Communications 
Government of Yukon 
(867) 633-7949 
roxanne.vallevand@gov.yk.ca 
 Peter Lesniak
Communications Coordinator
Council of Yukon First Nations
(867) 393-9202
peter.lesniak@cyfn.ca

 

For more information on the Northern Strategy Trust visit: http://www.eco.gov.yk.ca/igr/northern_strategy_trust.html

 

Backgrounder: 2007 Approved Projects – Northern Strategy Trust

Project

Amount

Description

District Central Services for C6 Subdivision Core  Community

$150,000

Design infrastructure / centralized services for C-6 Subdivision (centralized services to include district heating, fire protection, water and sewer treatment, emergency power).

Tage Cho Hudan Cultural / Heritage /Training Centre Feasibility Study

$150,000

Feasibility and design analysis to upgrade and/or replace the Tago Cho Hudan Cultural Centres

Satellite Base Mapping – Phase 2

$500,000

Developing high resolution base maps in priority areas of Yukon.

Therapeutic Community Resource Feasibility Study

$150,000

Joint work to plan a treatment resource as part of a new correctional centre.

Training to Develop Municipal and First Nation Government Capacity

$700,000

To expand the capacity of the Association of Yukon Communities to oversee training for elected officials and staff of municipal and FN governments that deliver municipal-type services.

Feasibility Study for a Whitehorse Emergency Shelter for Women

$58,500

To study the determinants of women’s homelessness and examine the space and programming needs of homeless women.

Southern Tutchone Tribal Council (STTC) New Mandate Implementation

$250,000

To explore options for Southern Tutchone First Nations to enhance implementation of their land claims agreements through a regional organization.

Old Crow Roadway and Drainage Upgrading - Phase 1, Feasibility and Design

$150,000

To identify and comprehensive solution to Old Crow’s complex road and drainage problems.

Water Stewardship and Climate Change Impacts on the Yukon River

$353,250

To sponsor training on conducting water quality monitoring along the Yukon River to gather climate change related baseline data.

Forty Mile Historic Site Access

$250,000

To improve access to this significant historic site.

First Nations Record Diffusion Project

$199,586

As a pilot project, identify Teslin Tligit Council records held at the Yukon Archives and make copies available for use by Teslin Tligit Council.

Southern Lakes Justice Development

$479,000

As a pilot project, develop a plan for addressing programming short falls in the justice and social services areas in Carcross.

Community Capacity Development Training in Mediation, Communication and Conflict

$150,000

To provide training to develop community peace keepers, mediators and negotiators.

Little Teslin Lake Recreations Lots – Implementation Phase

$255,000

To develop capacity within Teslin Tlingit Council to allow for the completion of a project to develop recreational lots on the shore of Little Teslin Lake.

Metafina Site Assessment and Clean-up

$49,962

To implement a level II environmental assessment of the abandoned Metafina site in Faro.

Executive Development Program

$1,050,000

To develop comprehensive Yukon First Nation executive leadership and management programming.

Capacity Development for Land and Resource Management and Development

$950,000

To assess First Nation capacity in the areas of land and resource development, develop strategies for improving capacity, and develop a long term capacity strategy through education and training.

Yukon First Nations Justice Network and Traditional Justice Summit Steering Committee

$56,254

To study the feasibility of establishing a Justice Steering Committee for Yukon First Nations.

Cooperative Education Program for Tr'ondek Hwech'in First Nation University Students

$378,992

To develop a cooperative education program for First Nation youth and to address Tr'ondek Hwech'in First Nation’s short and long-term labour shortage issues.

Youth Leadership Training and Skills Development

$210,000

To facilitate and deliver leadership training and employment and life skills development.

2010 Arctic Biodiversity Assessment - Yukon Indigenous Participation

$191,717

To enable Yukon Indigenous participation in the preparation of the Arctic Biodiversity Assessment report to be published in 2010 by the international Arctic Council.

Boards and Committees Leadership Training Services

$405,000

To develop and deliver training for members of Boards and Committees and other enhancements such as one-on-one consulting with board members.

Self Government Resource Centre and Website

$250,000

To establish a comprehensive resource centre and to create a website of self-government related material.

A Community Based Plan for Regional Substance Abuse Treatment

$321,500

To engage in a planning process and develop a community-based substance abuse plan for the Liard First Nation.

Water and Wastewater System Operator Capacity Building

$500,000

To develop a comprehensive training, certification and capacity building program for water and wastewater system operators, Yukon-wide.

Cold Climate Innovation Centre

$755,900

To develop an investment ready business plan and carry out ‘early start’ projects demonstrating and marketing the Cold Climate Centre concept.

E-Commerce Yukon

$561,397

To enhance the level of e-commerce activity in Yukon through development of an integrated e-commerce services framework.

Mobile Home Park Development - Range Road

$500,000

Work toward the development of a mobile home park, to be built and operated by Kwanlin Dün First Nation.

Advancing a League of Our Own: Aboriginal Women’s Centre

TBD*

To develop a business model for an Aboriginal Women’s Centre.

People's Place – Dena Koue and Sustainable Subdivision (Phase II).

$150,000

To develop complete architectural and engineering drawings for People’s Place – Dena Koue (a visitor reception centre, heritage and cultural space, artist studio, and office space) and a residential subdivision.

Educating and Empowering Aboriginal Youth

$174,663

To conduct education workshops, educational assessments and after school tutoring for youth with learning disabilities.

Toward Sufficiency for the Selkirk People

$2,012,000

To provide Selkirk First Nation with resources to strengthen governance structures in support of economic development.

Country Residential Subdivision

$749,700

To work toward the development of a leasehold-based 30 lot country residential subdivision.

Northern Climate Exchange Community Adaptation Project

$1,210,000

To carry out climate change adaptation planning and to implement adaptation actions in 3 Yukon communities.

Conservation Hatchery Training Institution

$150,000

To complete a comprehensive feasibility study and operational plan for a conservation hatchery training institution in Dawson.

CYFN's Elders and Youth Council

$150,000

To develop a body of elders and youth to report to and advise the leadership of CYFN.

Yukon First Nations Public Service

$600,000

To work cooperatively among Yukon First Nations to develop effective human resource initiatives and practices.

Revitalizing Culture Through Story and Technology

$345,000

To utilize DVD technology to produce a high-quality teaching resource to introduce students to First Nation culture while reviving storytelling traditions.

Walking Together to Revitalize and Perpetuate Yukon First Nation Languages

TBD*

 

To carry out a feasibility study on building upon, strengthening and optimizing existing language revitalization and maintenance efforts.

Total

$15,817,421

 

 

*TBD (To be determined) – these projects have been approved with conditions. Revised proposals and budgets have been requested.  Final budgets must fit within the total amount allocated from the Trust for 2007.