The 15th Yukon Forum took place Friday with discussion of COVID-19, off-road vehicles, Yukon River salmon and land use planning.

“Today, obviously with the COVID reality, we’re reflecting on a number of different things that have come forward,” Peter Johnston, the Council of Yukon First Nations’ (CYFN’s) grand chief, told reporters Friday afternoon.

The Forum assembled Johnston, First Nations chiefs, Premier Sandy Silver and cabinet members. It was a blend of in-person and virtual meetings at the Carcross Learning Centre.

During an afternoon teleconference with reporters, Johnston and Silver provided some details on the discussion.

Johnston said the impact of off-road vehicles on First Nations land is a major point of concern.

He noted that major ATV retailers have reported rising sales during the pandemic lockdown, and there has been a noticeable rise in traditional land being disturbed.

“We’ve definitely seen the impact on our backcountry,” Johnston said.

Off-road vehicle regulation was discussed with the goal of mitigating that damage, particularly in areas deemed sensitive and heritage sites.

Johnston said the regulations should find equilibrium between managing impacts to the territory and providing access to the land for citizens.

“First Nations, at the end of the day, want a balanced approach to these regulations,” Johnston said.

Silver said regulations are being finalized, and implementation is planned for January.

“This was a great opportunity to discuss next steps moving forward … we definitely have our work set out in front of us,” Silver said.

The leaders also discussed COVID-19 and economic recovery as the Yukon prepares for promised funding from the federal government.

“For us, it’s to ensure that our economic development agencies, let alone the institutions, are ready for whatever means the federal government is releasing,” Johnston said.

“Equally important is to ensure our citizens and community members are ready to take on these initiatives –– that’s not only building capacity but to organize and bring forward the necessary resources we envision.”

The grand chief said he wants to ensure that each community has a “sustainable perspective” going forward.

The CYFN is also expecting $3.6 million from the federal government for enhanced health and social services prevention funding.

It was agreed upon by the Trilateral Table on the well-being of Yukon First Nations children and families that this money should flow directly to the First Nations, which can decide how to utilize the funds in their communities.

Regarding tourism to communities from B.C. during the pandemic, Johnston said the open border has been beneficial for close-knit cross-boundary communities.

“There’s a lot of integration of families represented in both regions,” Johnson said.

“It’s tough to limit the participation on that level … but I think we’ve done a very good job of minimizing the impact.”

Travel can continue as long as it’s done respectfully and responsibly, the grand chief said. That doesn’t mean things won’t change in the future.

“If things escalate in the next couple weeks – let alone the next couple days and months – we are going to have to look again at how we relate to British Columbia from a tourism perspective,” Johnston said.

Yukon leaders also discussed the Yukon River salmon numbers and the “devastating impact” on certain First Nations.

“It’s been upwards of 25 years that we’ve taken this stance with regards for how we deal with the impact we’re feeling,” Johnston said.

He noted the salmon spawning process is very important to ensure the salmon population stays healthy. He said that maintaining a healthy salmon population should remain a priority for the Yukon government.

Land use planning was also a point of discussion at Friday’s forum.

“Land use planning is another contentious issue among the First Nations,” Johnston said.

“It is something that we deem very important to ensure that all Yukoners have a voice, but we also calculate and have a vision for our future as it does pertain to land use.”

Progress is being made toward a new Lands Act. A terms of reference has been signed for the Successor Legislation Working Group, according to the Yukon government.

Progress is also underway on the Dawson regional land use planning process.

Silver said Friday’s discussions were influenced by the “new normal” all governments are facing during the pandemic.

“While we continue to manage through these unprecedented times, it’s important we work together and carry on,” Silver said.

“We’ve had important conversations today to show how governments will move forward on shared priorities and, as always, some hard conversations – but we always learn so much and we’re better off as a territory because of these conversations.”

The Forum meets four times per year, with Friday’s session being the 15th meeting since January 2017.