Photo by Vince Fedoroff
ADDRESSING AN IMPORTANT NEED – Grand Chief Peter Johnston of the Council of Yukon First Nations, federal Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu and territorial Health and Social Services Minister Tracy-Anne McPhee are seen left to right at Wednesday’s news conference on menstrual equity in Whitehorse.
The Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN), Indigenous Services Canada and the territorial government are working together to address menstrual equity in Yukon.
The Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN), Indigenous Services Canada and the territorial government are working together to address menstrual equity in Yukon.
Menstrual products are a basic and essential need to ensure a person’s full participation in school, work and society, they said in a statement Wednesday.
As such, the CYFN is working with the department to ensure menstrual equity for all Yukon First Nations women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ peoples.
As part of a previous commitment by Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu to ensure that menstrual products be made available equitably and free of charge, the department has partnered with the CYFN to administer this project in the Yukon.
Various menstrual products, including pads, tampons and menstrual cups, have been distributed to Yukon First Nation communities and NGOs as part of this initiative.
The project allows for the purchase and availability of menstrual products in schools across the Yukon that will allow students to access a variety of menstrual products free of charge.
Leaders in the Yukon on this project will determine the product needs for Yukon First Nations people, followed by the procurement and warehousing of the menstrual products.
“This means that First Nations students will have the products they need when they need them,” the statement said.
Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) is providing $525,000 in 2022-23 to the CYFN to implement the project in the Yukon.
This funding is part of $2.5 million committed to increase access to menstrual products for First Nations and Inuit students across the territories and in Inuit Nunangat.
The Yukon government also provided $100,000 in funding in 2021-22 to help support the CYFN in administering the initiative within Yukon schools.
“Too many people can’t attend school because they don’t have access to menstrual products,” said Hajdu, who is visiting the territory this week.
“But we can change that to make sure everyone has a fair chance to succeed. With $500,000 from Indigenous Services Canada, we can help Indigenous girls, women, and LGBTQ2SIAA+ people access menstrual products when they need them.
“Thank you to the Council of Yukon First Nations for their leadership, and the Yukon government for their support,” Hajdu added.
“I know our work together will restore dignity and choice to so many.”
Grand Chief Peter Johnston said the CYFN “is grateful for the funding support to address menstrual equity by providing Yukon First Nations women and girls access to free menstrual products and advocating to reduce the stigma and impact of period poverty on Yukon First Nations women and girls.”
Health and Social Services Minister Tracy-Anne McPhee said the project “is the result of successful collaboration between the Council of Yukon First Nations, the Government of Canada and the Yukon government.
“Offering free menstrual products to women and girls is an important step in ensuring the health and well-being of the next generation.
“No matter what path young women choose to follow, they will now have a greater degree of freedom to pursue their dreams and aspirations,” McPhee said.
“We will continue to work with partners to champion this important work.”
On Nov. 5, 2021, Hajdu announced that menstrual products would be made freely available to all students at First Nation-operated schools on reserves and in federal schools.
She subsequently announced that Ottawa will work with partners across the territories and Inuit Nunangat to ensure access.
In the Yukon, ISC does not operate elementary or secondary schools.
As such, to determine the appropriate partners to implement the initiative in these locations, ISC engaged with Indigenous partners to provide funding to the CYFN.
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Comments (59)
Up 0 Down 0
Dentist 47 on Aug 3, 2022 at 8:07 pm
Why 2 “Q”s?
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Charlie's Aunt on Aug 3, 2022 at 2:16 pm
Territorial Gov and a different Fed minister should perhaps consider giving similar equity for these products to the Food Bank. I had previously been told that people rarely think to donate these items, toothpaste/brushes, soap, deodorant, adult diapers etc. Poor people of all backgrounds need these; too bad it would limit YFN folks who can afford to pay, along with everyone else in same circumstance. In an ideal world they would be free for all ages, but for now make menstrual products free for all school kids but limit supply so they are not stockpiled at home for family use.
Up 28 Down 0
yukong on Aug 3, 2022 at 11:32 am
EVERY CHILD MATTERS. But not when it comes to funding.
Up 24 Down 0
Pem610 on Aug 3, 2022 at 7:26 am
Liberal racism in action...
Up 37 Down 0
Johanne L on Aug 2, 2022 at 1:12 pm
Is “equity” appropriate in this context? How “equitable” is this for young Asian, Black, Latino and White women? Are we to assume that they all have the financial means to buy these products while FN girls don’t? If taxpayers’ money is to be used to purchase these products (a decision which should have been up for debate to start with), I think they should be made available to all students, regardless of their ethnic background and sexual orientation/identity. Why would a native lesbian be more deserving of free handouts than her heterosexual Latino counterpart? This kind of over-the-top “affirmative action” far from promoting reconciliation only fosters more social tensions and frictions. But maybe that is the hidden agenda of our decision makers, the good old “divide and rule” strategy.
Up 7 Down 2
Hobo on Aug 2, 2022 at 6:37 am
@IbexGal : Why condoms? If they are castrating left, right and center no need for those.
Up 50 Down 5
ben on Aug 1, 2022 at 2:28 pm
I honestly do not know how some of these folks can show their faces in public, and I honestly don't know how some of them can be comfortable in their own skin knowing that they're pushing all this woke, leftist, racist BS. What a mess this country and this Territory are in. I only hope that the majority are now seeing it so we can be done with these lunatics. Alas, I feel that the majority are fully swallowed into the narrative and will continue to drag us down and keep voting for our current failure of a government. Anybody else feel like they want to go home.....and then they realise it doesn't exist anymore.
Up 27 Down 11
Just Sayin' on Aug 1, 2022 at 9:43 am
With the increased effect of sanitary products ending up in pumping facilities and clogging up sewer pipes among other issues (single use plastics) why was not a novel approach taken to provide newer technology to deal with periods?
How about providing Diva cups ? Nope instead lets provide the same ancient technology and pretend we are doing a good thing.
Up 39 Down 3
Nathan Living on Jul 31, 2022 at 10:56 pm
Are there Yukon University courses I can take to help me understand contemporary approaches to equity and social engineering?
Up 36 Down 2
Groucho d'North on Jul 31, 2022 at 9:29 am
And again, equality is forfeit by politcians desperate to show they are not racists despite their Us & Them policies.
Up 31 Down 4
AdmiralA$$ on Jul 31, 2022 at 8:50 am
Libranos buying more votes. " oh my, look at all the needy people we have created. I know let's put them deeper under our thumbs and hand them this stuff for free so we can take it away and they can continue to live under our thumb." "Great idea while your at it lets just add a little undertone of Librano race baiting so people don't like to talk against it". Soon these people will be giving your house away too, oh wait....I have yet to determine if these people are malicious or stupid. Well, when it comes to McPhee I know the answer is the former, the rest I am not sure yet.
Up 36 Down 2
Laur on Jul 31, 2022 at 6:27 am
B.C has similar program and products are offered to ALL women .
Why don't we get rid of the middle man here and Territorial Government run on their own with this one.
Up 46 Down 2
Dave on Jul 30, 2022 at 11:58 am
Government initiated racism such as this story demonstrates is alive and well in Canada. What are we the people going to do to stop it?
Up 45 Down 2
Louise on Jul 30, 2022 at 8:49 am
Good to see racism is still alive and well in Ottawa.
We will never achieve reconciliation as long as we keep this up. In fact I am starting give up on the notion completely. I am beginning to think it is just an attempt to get more money, as if enough money does not flow already.
Up 12 Down 19
Unicorn musk and other scents of La liberal erotica on Jul 29, 2022 at 10:49 pm
Dear joe on Jul 29, 2022 at 3:18 pm:
Aside from the obvious fact that white people cannot be discriminated against and therefore no claim of discrimination can be claimed by a white person there is the notion that preferred hiring practices, equity programs, and other aims to correct historical, socioeconomic injustices, are not discriminatory conduct giving rise to a claim of infringement of a prohibited grounds by the effected party (sorry Caucasians).
There is the legal presumption that no discrimination has occurred by virtue of the programs existence to correct thousands of years of white privilege… Although it was the kings, queens, lords, ladies, and then later the political classes that benefited by pitting lower class whites against others through royal decrees, practices, rules, policies, procedures, and then laws.
Caucasians, from sadism to masochism… The whip of self flagellation… Liberalism, the ideology of, “whip me, beat me, make me write bad checks!” Whipping the public into line with approved speech, beating them down with identity politics, and then of course - Everyone knows that Liberals write all sorts of checks for money they do not have… But that’s okay, take heart, because they make you pay for it too…
LOL, LMAO, ROFL, PMSL - FFS!
You still think they exercise the “will of the people” and that you live in a democracy - Hahahahahahahahaha… Perhaps we could repurpose the word retar#*#?
Up 32 Down 0
2SLGBTQQIA+ peoples on Jul 29, 2022 at 9:53 pm
Jeez even gay men get tampons before I do, LOL
Up 44 Down 0
BB on Jul 29, 2022 at 6:33 pm
The federal government appears to have done a study on 'barriers to graduating for indigenous students'. One of the easy peasey items is, "I got my period and didn't have any tampons so I didn't go to school for a week."
Maybe they should take the hint that this issue probably affects more than just indigenous menstruators (can't remember all the letters). The approach the governments have taken, both YG and the federal, and with the acceptance of CYFN without a word of concern for other girls; is divisive and disgustingly narrow minded. Yes, I actually am disgusted and did try to think of a less intense word.
Up 36 Down 0
marylaker on Jul 29, 2022 at 6:11 pm
Meg, it is not 'CYFN funded'. The federal government gave half a million dollars to CYFN, and the territorial government gave CYFN an additional $100,000 for this school year in order to give tampons and pads to FN girls and FN not-girls who menstruate.
As for the rest of your post, if I were FN, I would feel the same way. I just wanted to clarify that this is Canadian taxpayer funded, not CYFN funded. They are administrating it, and yes, the federal and territorial government have earmarked the money for 'their own people'. I think it would be shockingly awesome if CYFN turned around and said, "Nah, I think we're going to make this available to all students who need it. Thanks for the loot." and taught the governments a lesson.
Up 60 Down 0
marylaker on Jul 29, 2022 at 5:59 pm
Are you serious?! Only for FN females, and LGBQTetc people. Every other female between the age of 12 and 55 is deemed to be self-sufficient or undeserving.
This is absolute nonsense. There are FN women who are politicians, government workers, business owners, lawyers etc. who can look after themselves and their daughters. Meanwhile there are white, black, asian, and anyone I've missed students, girls, women who are not part of the alphabet club or the right status, who maybe could use some help.
I am completely sick of this bs where help is doled out based on your chosen gender or whether you are FN. Those people themselves should be standing up and rejecting this situation, and demanding that help be needs based, "period".
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bonanzajoe on Jul 29, 2022 at 5:50 pm
“No matter what path young women choose to follow, they will now have a greater degree of freedom to pursue their dreams and aspirations,” McPhee said.
And what the double hockey sticks has this got to do with maxi pads?
Up 15 Down 0
bonanzajoe on Jul 29, 2022 at 5:49 pm
@Erin Giesbrecht on Jul 29, 2022. "Follow the money"!
Up 28 Down 2
Groucho d'North on Jul 29, 2022 at 5:38 pm
@Joe
Be sure to voice your displeasure in the next general election when you make your mark on the ballot.
Up 20 Down 2
Josey Wales on Jul 29, 2022 at 5:19 pm
Reading some participation here, seeing what is being engineered all over zee planet, the epic epic supremacy and polarizing being liberal funded and liberal state promoted?
Gotta say if we stay on this course, we will all bleed red in the end.
...and with a heavy flow, high in iron too, copper maybe, tungsten?
Anyone who see no issue with the Orwellian nature of current events and divisive politics, very good chance said person is a racist proper, a cultural supremacist and or a globalist twit.
I highly suggest is a young lady proper cannot actually afford such lady items for said biological realities...they merely “identify” as one one Turtle Islands stewards, the political and cultural supremacist that pepper these post glacier lands.
“Only women bleed” Alice Cooper, reformed hippie drug addict rock star. Guess they took that off the airwaves now CRTC and all.
Up 75 Down 1
joe on Jul 29, 2022 at 3:18 pm
Somehow we have gotten to a place where you are called a racist for calling out racism. you can hunt there but I can't, she can get free pads but you can't...it is plain and simple racial discrimination, nothing else- but somehow we allow it to happen and if you speak of it you are called a racist.
Up 73 Down 2
Erin Giesbrecht on Jul 29, 2022 at 12:59 pm
Shame on CYFN for agreeing to further divide our communities by race!
Up 54 Down 1
Linda on Jul 29, 2022 at 11:21 am
@ Confused
Perhaps the gov't should, BUT they won't. Simple - you are NOT in the group that qualifies in this era of "wokeness". Sorry...
Up 51 Down 2
Groucho d'North on Jul 29, 2022 at 10:32 am
I think it might be a good time to confirm the definition of the word 'equity', It appears to mean different things to the public and the governments' brain trust. Perhaps it is the new speak effect?
Up 65 Down 2
John on Jul 29, 2022 at 9:55 am
Yet more liberal divisive politics. It just never stops. No end in sight...
Up 49 Down 3
comen sense on Jul 29, 2022 at 9:20 am
What happened to dispensers in the washrooms just put a looney in. Don't bother Liberals your not going to buy your way to a win in the next election.
Up 37 Down 4
JC on Jul 29, 2022 at 8:56 am
Oh yeah. Love that Whitehorse Star left this one open for comments.
Up 63 Down 3
unbelievable on Jul 29, 2022 at 8:03 am
@Yukoner, thinking the same thing. "white" girls don't have their period? Wow, what have we become? Scary times for sure.
Up 28 Down 3
@mrfacts on Jul 29, 2022 at 6:26 am
"Where's my hand outs? If not, then this is straight up sexism and I'll be filing a complaint with the Human Rights Tribunal."
If I had a dollar for every person who said they were going to file a complaint with the human rights tribunal, and then didn't, i could afford to fill up my car.
I bet the stats are something like 1 complaint for every 10000 empty threat.
Up 49 Down 3
Adam Morrison on Jul 29, 2022 at 6:03 am
Menstrual inequality?? If we keep letting Liberal Marxism ideology infiltrate our culture we will find inequality around every corner until we are living in a world of "politically correct cultural absurdities".
Up 47 Down 3
Tax Revolter on Jul 29, 2022 at 3:27 am
This is why I now do everything I can to outwit the tax man from taking my hard earned money. I don’t need to nor will I willingly be burdened by ever increasing taxes to support complete nonsense such as this that is now taking place.
Up 53 Down 1
North_of_60 on Jul 29, 2022 at 12:55 am
Remember back when those who needed menstrual products could get them from the school nurse, and later they had coin operated dispensers in the washroom that didn't have urinals. In those days the govt didn't try to frame that as racial based virtue-signaling.
Up 74 Down 6
Juniper Jackson on Jul 28, 2022 at 10:02 pm
Well..as every one knows, white, Asian, Latino females don’t have a monthly flow. None of them are poor either. No one but FN are deserving of freebies and handouts. Talk about FN privilege!
Up 30 Down 11
bonanzajoe on Jul 28, 2022 at 8:40 pm
Want the old days back, how about using moss and dried leaves. Worked for the ancients. And free!
Up 50 Down 0
Just put them on the shelves, free for all on Jul 28, 2022 at 8:36 pm
"Menstrual products are a basic and essential need to ensure a person’s full participation in school, work and society". Indigenous women are not the only women who can not afford these products. This "equity" only builds resentment. This resentment is growing by the day, overtly treating many ethnic groups like trash is not the way foward toward equity or reconciliation, in fact it's the same game as always, just different players now.
Yukoner - I agree with what you say, except, please stop referring to women as "cis-women" - we are not sub-categories of ourselves.
Up 28 Down 4
bonanzajoe on Jul 28, 2022 at 8:35 pm
@Mr Facts on Jul 28, 2022. Good idea, but better wait till a Conservative or People's Party government is elected. Otherwise you will be just wasting your money. The Liberal/NDP governments just cause these situations, not solve them.
Up 31 Down 8
bonanzajoe on Jul 28, 2022 at 8:32 pm
Yukoner on Jul 28. That ship sailed years ago. We whites are on the hit list of eradication. It's called "Critical Race Theory". Sure would like to live to see how the world gets on without the white race. Anybody got a horse and buggy for sale?
Up 70 Down 0
Meg on Jul 28, 2022 at 6:58 pm
I have to say as a first nation woman, I am disappointed by this. While I support giving free products to ppl in need, especially knowing the pink tax exists, I am really against pretending to be fair while excluding several groups of people. I get that it's CYFN funded but wouldn't it be a great example of true fairness to extend these resources to everyone?
Up 43 Down 3
Ben on Jul 28, 2022 at 6:57 pm
Women (indigenous or not) should be able to access free menstrual products, so I really don’t mind chipping in my tax dollars to pay for that. I’m not sure why the reference to the alphabet people cause so far as I’m aware only women menstruate. What I don’t want my tax dollars to contribute to is the virtue signalling word salad that the various officials are making a big deal of through this article.
Up 30 Down 3
Geoff on Jul 28, 2022 at 6:19 pm
If they put dispensers in washrooms, expect someone to vandalize the ones in the boys' and men's washrooms, not because it's the right thing to do, but because if you have failed to teach kids the Greatest Commandment, their hearts and minds are empty of morality and they do steal, destroy and hurt. Vandalize the dispensers, or break them open and flush them down a toilet and plug it up. I agree with Mr. Facts and Yukoner - this is a reversing of course toward equality. Instead of enforced freebies, why don't we simply encourage charity and compassion by individuals to individuals, instead of filtering it through bureaucracies that consume money?
Up 32 Down 5
Matthew on Jul 28, 2022 at 5:52 pm
This doesn't even make sense.. Will men now be included? I mean it is 2022 LOL
Up 38 Down 1
Heather on Jul 28, 2022 at 5:39 pm
How do the alphabet folk tie into this? LGB etc.
Up 53 Down 4
Charlie's Aunt on Jul 28, 2022 at 5:22 pm
Had to read this several times because I thought I must have misunderstood. Nope, it says what I thought it said. This is misuse of Fed & YT funds, as well as being absolutely racist. Is menstruation exclusive to FN? What about everyone else? There are many poor non FN people who struggle to buy essentials and Mr. Facts has a valid point. Cabott might like to wrap her inclusivity speech around this one. When dental plan comes into effect are they going to hand out free toothpaste and will it only be for FN? Cons are calling for a fall election and seems to me that JT and crew are trying to panic buy votes. This biased, nonsense spending has to stop.
Up 38 Down 2
Sunny Petersen on Jul 28, 2022 at 4:58 pm
As I read beyond Liberal pamphlets, CBC News and even the Whitehorse Star, I was immersed just yesterday in an article on Argentina, where people are protesting in front of Parliament demanding more government money and requesting that current hand outs aren't slashed. The problem? The Argentinian president is trying to cut social hand out money. Why? Because the country takes in less from taxes than it doles out to their citizens, in other words, the country is completely bankrupt, owes trillions in worldwide debt is close to defaulting on paying anything and will soon fold entirely. Add to this that those that do work and pay taxes (employment rate of 43%) are unwilling to support the other 57% with their taxes. So Liberals, keep dropping my tax money all over the country but don't be surprised when the Canadian economy folds. You know who will be hit the hardest? The group that has been accustomed to free hand outs. In other words, the Liberal government is on course to eliminate those they are trying to buy right now.
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Devil’s in the details on Jul 28, 2022 at 4:53 pm
The operative word being equity, not equality. Wakey, wakey.
Up 94 Down 8
Anie on Jul 28, 2022 at 4:23 pm
Not sure I understand how this will work. CYFN are running the program, and getting paid $100,00. But only indigenous girls are eligible, which seems contradictory to the statement that they will "ensure equity for all Yukon First Nations women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ peoples". Is equity the right word? And The alphabet identifier seems to change with every news report, so I'm not sure what this one includes . So what's the plan, for example, at FH Collins? A note on the dispenser 'indigenous free, all others .$1. Wait, that won't cover the alphabet people. Maybe they need the $100k just to come up with a plan. Of all the Trudeaubutts boondoggles, this one takes the cake. Oh, and indigenous young men? Well I'm sure we'll find something to give you in compensation. Equity, you know.
Up 50 Down 21
🙄 on Jul 28, 2022 at 4:15 pm
This is the gateway to putting tampons & pads in the boys bathroom & then comes putting girls & boys together in the same bathroom. Just watch.
Up 41 Down 7
motive unclear on Jul 28, 2022 at 4:07 pm
well, i'm not touching this one....
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IbexGal on Jul 28, 2022 at 3:56 pm
I can't believe this!!! Again, another example of the 'cradle to grave' mentality of the liberal party. Whatever happened to self responsibility?? If the FN want to be respected as equals, then let their ladies buy their own menstrual products like everyone else. Next you'll be supplying condoms???
Up 74 Down 11
Josey Wales on Jul 28, 2022 at 3:29 pm
Wow...big crisis?
Please someone make 1984 fiction again.
Menstrual Equity eh...wow.
Up 83 Down 9
Linda on Jul 28, 2022 at 3:28 pm
You have got to be kidding !!!
Up 101 Down 6
Jeff Bikaboom on Jul 28, 2022 at 3:28 pm
It is nice that females will have access to products they might not have otherwise of had, but this news has been conveyed in quite a bizarre manner.
"CYFN is working with the department to ensure menstrual equity for all Yukon First Nations women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ peoples."
What if non First Nations don't have access to menstrual products, is there any services in the Yukon to give them the freedom to pursue their dreams and aspirations?
Up 83 Down 24
Mr Facts on Jul 28, 2022 at 3:05 pm
As someone who identifies as a "Manly Man", I respectfully object.
Deodorant, shaving cream, soap, bandaids and teeth products are a basic and essential need to ensure my full participation in school, work and society.
Where's my hand outs? If not, then this is straight up sexism and I'll be filing a complaint with the Human Rights Tribunal.
Up 140 Down 5
Confused on Jul 28, 2022 at 2:55 pm
Shouldn’t these products be made available to ALL women and girls, regardless of culture or race?
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Yukoner on Jul 28, 2022 at 2:52 pm
"As such, the CYFN is working with the department to ensure menstrual equity for all Yukon First Nations women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ peoples."
So, does that mean that I, a cis-gendered, white, non-anything woman, don't fit into the equity plan? I can pay for my stuff, eh?
We are going down a very sad road, further and further away from the "we are all equal" progress of the last decades. Even sadder, we were almost there.
Up 8 Down 46
MITCH on Jul 28, 2022 at 2:10 pm
Great development.