Andy Carvill, grand chief of the Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN), says he was most impressed last week by the unity and willingness among political leaders to lessen the disparity between aboriginal and non-aboriginal people in Canada.

Carvill was joined in Whitehorse this morning by Premier Dennis Fentie to discuss what's being called a historic two-day meeting in Kelowna, B.C. between aboriginal chiefs, Prime Minister Paul Martin and the 13 first ministers.

'Everyone got together, the premiers from across the country and the aboriginal leaders,' said Carvill. 'I am optimistic the money will flow, and will flow down to the people who need it most.'

Martin announced $5 billion over the next five years to help close the gap between first nations and non-aboriginal Canadians in the area of health care, housing, education and economic development opportunities.

Fentie also applauded the results of the meeting. He noted Canada has finally stood down on its policy that previously differentiated between on- and off-reserve programs, and programs for status and non-status aboriginal Canadians.

Even with the strong possibility of a federal election looming with the federal non-confidence vote scheduled for this afternoon, the premier said he is confident all federal parties support what was agreed to in Kelowna last Thursday and Friday.

The money announced, however, is new funding and will require approval by the House of Commons in some sort of budgetary process, though Fentie suspects the Yukon could see some of the money by next fall.

He explained that in some areas like like housing, money may flow directly to the first nations but there'll likely be a more central approach to health care issues.

It will take time, said Fentie, to work out the details.

Money for housing, he said, will not only create gainful employment for aboriginal people building houses for first nation communities, but will increase training opportunities and build capacity in the communities. It will add to healthy living and be a source of community pride.

Fentie said there'll be no problem involving the three Yukon first nations that don't belong to the CYFN.

In a federal press release issued Friday afternoon at the end of the Kelowna meeting, the federal government outlined its commitment, including:

ï $1.8 billion in federal funding over the next five years for education, of which $50 million will flow to the North.

ï a further $100 million over the next five years to be spent on existing programs in the North to prepare children for their school-age experience.

ï $1.32 billion will be invested in health care, including an effort to double in the next 10 years the number of aboriginal doctors and nurses from 150 and 1,200 respectively.

ï $1.6 billion to be spent over the next five years to advance the federal commitment to reduce housing shortfalls by 40 per cent over the next five years and by 80 per cent over the life of the 10-year plan.

ï $200 million will be invested in economic opportunities over the next five years.

ï $170 million has been committed over the next five years to build relationships and accountability among first nations and non-first nation governments.

'It was a successful meeting,' Carvill told reporters this morning. 'We really accomplished what we set out to do for the benefit of all Yukoners.

'You can see the time has come for everybody to work together to make these changes for aboriginal Canadians.'

Carvill said it's important to him the parties sit down right away to establish priorities for the Kelowna funding commitments.

Fentie said the federal government has been negligent in fulfilling its responsibilities to aboriginal Canadians. The Kelowna agreement, he said, will begin to close the gap in the standard of living between aboriginal and non-aboriginal communities.

Prior to arriving in Kelowna, Fentie and Carville spent two days in Ottawa discussing the economic development strategy for the North that was previously announced by the federal government.