The Liard First Nation (LFN) has returned responsibility for its income assistance program to the regional Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada office (AANDC.).

Previously, the program had been contracted out to the First Nation by AANDC.

"Our First Nation has had a great deal of problems administering this particular program on behalf of the federal government,” LFN Chief Liard McMillan explained in a release last week.

"Our citizens believe that we are the ones creating the rules or restrictions that we have to enforce, when the reality is we have no control over these rues or their interpretation.”

McMillan said the administrative dollars the First Nation received to administer the program are nowhere near sufficient.

"It is unfair that our front-line workers receive less than $20/hour when income assistance workers within the federal offices in Whitehorse receive more than $30/hour with less stress,” he said in the release.

This is not the first time a Yukon First Nation has raised the issue of insufficient funding to administer programs and services.

The Carcross/Tagish First Nation is currently in mediation with the federal government over a request for more funding for that purpose.

"Last year, we had pickets at our administrative offices because of the rules we are being asked by AANDC to enforce, which force people to choose between heating their houses and eating,” Chief McMillan continued in the release.

"We have received numerous serious threats against our staff because of this program.

"I as chief am no longer willing to place our staff in jeopardy nor enforce onerous rules upon my citizens.

"These are exceptional circumstances, and is it time for definitive action. It is time for the Yukon region to administer their own program.”

The First Nation plans to continue to take part in other federal programs like the National Child Benefit Reinvestment funds, Elders Wood, and other prevention programs.