Regardless who is named the next Aboriginal Affairs minister, Ruth Massie, the Council of Yukon First Nations' grand chief, would like to see a visit to the Yukon worked into his or her schedule early on.

"I think they are more than overdue to come up and have a face-to-face meeting and catch up with our agendas, see what they can do for us,” Massie told the Star this morning.

The last time former minister John Duncan visited the Yukon, for an intergovernmental forum, was 2 1/2 years ago, Massie said.

Heritage Minister James Moore has taken over the high-profile portfolio in the interim following Duncan's resignation last Friday, and Massie hopes to meet with him at the end of this month in Ottawa.

The grand chief will be in the capital for the national aboriginal land claim coalition's annual meeting.

"The minister of Indian Affairs is on our agenda and whether, because it's so soon, whether the minister can accommodate will be another thing, so they may send some senior bureaucrats,” she said.

"But we need our minister, regardless of who it is, to be aware and knowledgeable of land claims processes and of course willing to engage us on our outstanding agendas.”

Massie said she has not combed a list of possible ministerial candidates.

However, she is aware of discussions surrounding the possibility that Greg Rickford, the current parliamentary secretary to the Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development minister, may be promoted.

"I've had more conversations with Greg Rickford than I have with the minister on any of our outstanding issues in regards to our claim process,” Massie said.

"He seems to be consistent in his interest. Of course, the North is a focal point for the prime minister's agenda right now,” said Massie.

"I think he would be accommodating to improving the quality of life for aboriginal people in the North.”

In his resignation announcement, Duncan said, "In June of 2011, I wrote a character reference letter to the Tax Court of Canada on behalf of an individual to whom my constituency staff was providing casework assistance on a Canada Revenue Agency matter.

"While the letter was written with honourable intentions, I realize that it was not appropriate for me, as a minister of the Crown, to write to the Tax Court.

"I have therefore offered my resignation as minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development to the prime minister, which he has accepted.

"I take full responsibility for my actions and the consequences they have brought,” he said.

Massie said she was not surprised by Duncan's decision to resign, noting that the B.C. MP has had considerable health concerns over the past couple of years.

"I think that for him to recognize the mistake that he made approaching the tax court, he's being quite honourable making the decision to step down,” she added.

While she said he seemed quite knowledgeable about his portfolio, she's not convinced his resignation is a significant loss.

Yukon MP Ryan Leef and Premier Darrell Pasloski were not available Monday nor today to comment on Duncan's resignation and legacy.