The Yukon First Nations launched an election engagement campaign Tuesday afternoon at the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre.

“(Yukon First Nations) are nearly a quarter of the population here in the Yukon and we have an incredibly strong voice,” said Kluane Adamek, the Assembly of First Nations’ Yukon regional chief.

Adamek and Peter Johnston, the Council of Yukon First Nations’ grand chief told media the campaign, “A Yukon That Votes”, aims to educate Yukon First Nation citizens on election issues.

It aims to bolster engagement in the process and inspire citizens to get to the polls on Oct. 21.

To kick off the campaign, Yukon First Nations will host an all-candidates’ forum from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre.

First Nations citizens in attendance will be able to ask questions of the candidates. The forum will be livestreamed for members of Yukon communities.

Adamek said a report card evaluating the campaigning parties’ platforms through a First Nations lens will soon be made available.

“This is really about communication,” she said. “It’s about being very clear about Yukon First Nations priorities.”

Adamek said the campaign will also evaluate each party’s history of federal commitments.

Both leaders said they will not be endorsing a candidate but want to ensure citizens have the tools to make educated choices.

Adamek said more than 60 per cent of the Canadian First Nations population voted in the 2015 federal election.

This was the largest percentage in Canadian history. It represents a new era in which First Nations voices begin to take their place at the forefront of decision-making.

“Our right to vote wasn’t always there as Indigenous people, as women, so this is a really important moment of opportunity to get people the information,” Adamek said.

Johnston said climate and environmentalism as well as child welfare will be major points of concern for Yukon First Nations in the engagement campaign.

Adamek added Yukon First Nations is looking for movement toward better implementation and advancement of treaties from federal powers.

“There is a huge journey ahead, and we are all part of that journey together,” she said.

Adamek said Yukon First Nations citizens can look forward to several communications initiatives alongside Monday’s forum and the pending report card.

The campaign will share information with citizens on how to register to vote and where to cast their ballot in three weeks.

It will also aim to inspire conversations on social media where citizens can share concerns, questions and healthy discussion about the election process.

An important aspect of all initiatives will be engaging youth. Johnston said that because Canadian First Nations citizens were not allowed to vote until the 1960s, there is a disconnect between the old and new generation in some families.

“I think there’s a lack of trust,” he said. “But you can see the influence by the minority groups when they do step up to that challenge.”

Adamek added the youth are Yukon First Nations’ fastest-growing population and bring with them a new wave of engagement.

The influx of youth engagement is bolstered by social media and the desire to express how northern priorities differ from those in the rest of Canada.

Johnston said much of the younger generation has grown up with self-government and are facing this election with a different perspective.

“We’ve gone through such negative impact over the course of our history as First Nations here for over 200 years, and really now, it’s about taking our rightful place,” Johnston said.

“We’re still building this momentum going forward and to ensure we have our younger generations play a very active role.”

The campaign is a continuation of First Nations voter engagement strategy that took place in the last federal and territorial elections.