The third annual Yukon First Nations Resource Conference and Student Job Fair will take place March 20-21 in Whitehorse.

Attendees will gain first hand, practical knowledge from successful First Nation partnerships in minerals and mining, power and energy and tourism and an increased understanding of First Nations culture, heritage and intimate relationships with the land and its resources.

"The conference will bring Yukon First Nations and the resource sector together in an exchange of ideas, and knowledge,” says Jerry Asp, the conference host, and president, of the C3 Alliance Corp.

"This is an invaluable opportunity for Yukon First Nations and the resource sector to meet face-to-face.”

The 2011 job fair resulted in more than 125 Yukon College students participating. Twenty-five students secured employment offers during the two-day conference.

The Yukon First Nations Resource Conference will also feature a pre-conference workshop on March 19 called "Working Effectively with Aboriginal Peoples”.

Delivered by Bob Joseph, the founder of Indigenous Corporate Training Inc., the full-day workshop is a cross-cultural awareness training program designed to help individuals and organizations work more effectively with Aboriginal Peoples.

"This conference provides a great opportunity for officials from the Yukon government to connect with Yukon First Nations, so we can learn from each other,” said Bob Holmes, the government's director of mineral resources.

"Successful resource development in Yukon requires co-operation and understanding amongst all parties, and this event contributes to achieving these goals.”

The third annual conference will present a unique opportunity for First Nations, governments and resource companies to learn best practices to work together in a co-operative and beneficial manner, organizers said.