Whitehorse Daily Star

Leaders’ forum was held in Old Crow

Premier Sandy Silver and his cabinet, Council of Yukon First Nations Grand Chief Peter Johnston and First Nations chiefs met last Thursday in Old Crow at the Darius Elias Community Centre, and virtually, for the Yukon Forum.

By Whitehorse Star on June 20, 2022

Premier Sandy Silver and his cabinet, Council of Yukon First Nations Grand Chief Peter Johnston and First Nations chiefs met last Thursday in Old Crow at the Darius Elias Community Centre, and virtually, for the Yukon Forum.

It was the first time the Forum has been held in Old Crow and is one of the first events to be hosted at the new energy-efficient community centre, which opened last month.

Conversations at the forum centred on renewable energy and climate change.

An update was also provided on the work being done to address the four pathways outlined in Changing the Story to Upholding Dignity and Justice: Yukon’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-spirit+ People Strategy released in December 2020.

The strategy commits to ending violence and changing the story for Indigenous women, girls and Two-spirit+ people in the Yukon.

While visiting the community, leaders toured Sree Vyàa, the Old Crow Solar Project, located on Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation Settlement Land and supported by Yukon government’s Independent Power Production Policy.

Sree Vyàa is reducing greenhouse gas emissions and is decreasing the amount of diesel fuel that is flown in to Old Crow.

The project is owned and managed by the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation and is pivotal in its government’s vision of reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2030.

The territorial government, First Nations and ATCO Electric Yukon are working together with the goal of reducing the use of diesel to generate electricity in off-grid communities by 30 per cent.

“It was a pleasure to be able to host the Yukon Forum for the first time in Old Crow and in the new Darius Elias Community Centre,” Silver said afterward

“(Thursday’s) meeting highlighted the importance of our ongoing work together to address the impacts of climate change to protect First Nations cultures, ways of life and well-being,” the premier added.

“We also reaffirmed our commitment to ending violence against Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirited+ people and the Yukon’s renewable energy capacity.”

Johnston said the CYFN “is pleased to see the continued commitment to Yukon Forum demonstrated by leaders as we come together in Old Crow to discuss issues impacting Yukon First Nations.

“The meeting encompassed discussions and updates on wide-ranging issues, including climate change, renewable energy, and addressing MMIWG2S+.”

The Forum meets four times a year.

There have been 21 Forum meetings since signing the Working Together Declaration in January 2017.

Previous to that, the meetings had petered out under the former Yukon Party government.

“We welcome the Yukon Forum to Old Crow to see firsthand the leadership of Yukon First Nations in addressing climate change,” said Vuntut Gwitchin Chief Dana Tizya-Tramm.

“Sree Vyàa, the Old Crow Solar Project, is just the beginning of our work implementing climate solutions in the North.

“As we continue on the path toward a low-carbon world, we see a better future for our community and our people.”

Comments (16)

Up 0 Down 0

MITCH on Jun 27, 2022 at 10:28 am

@ Josey - Thank you, they took out the part where I said "I bet Dana put them in their place". Editors must think I don't know him. I do, Dana is exactly the guy who can and will do that. I respect him profoundly for it.

Up 9 Down 0

Josey Wales on Jun 26, 2022 at 7:35 am

This...
“Really going out of their way to avoid those protests huh?”
...is absolute truth, golden truth even AND numerically under valued thumbs up wise?
Thanks MITCH for that simple marrow penetration with just one bite.

Guess the Fourth Reich will now have to get Emperor Blackface to close down another pipeline now to “off set” their carbon footprint for this very very important forum?
So full of fiction most certainly this “forum”, it might as well be the Penthouse forum.
Either way, post “forum”many many will be #&@%€>!
...just not they way the SS illustrated.

Gee wonder... if in history did the SS ever deceived the citizens to achieve THEIR goals, solutions to their problems...with global ambitions?

I simply cannot do what MITCH can and did, one sentence, one question?
Absolutely golden MITCH!

Up 17 Down 1

Groucho d'North on Jun 24, 2022 at 10:11 am

How often do you hear the word 'inclusive' these days? As a tax payer I do not feel included in these in-camera meetings that ultimately result in policies and programs that we pay for. Granted these meetings should not be conducted in a public venue- it would be like the Tower of Babel. But post the meeting agenda and invite comments from the public as a form of consultation prior to the meetings. Democracy is the bastard child of inclusivity.

Up 7 Down 19

Politico on Jun 23, 2022 at 12:40 pm

@ bonanzajoe So " missing and murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-spirit+ People Strategy " aren't important enough to talk about! Good to know where you stand.

Up 5 Down 2

John on Jun 23, 2022 at 10:23 am

Their stupidity is not really their fault. It’s the mosquitoes that bit them — they’re rabid.
This is what I suggest, take a litre of absorbine junior and add a litre of citronella then a big blob of vicks vapo rub. Bottle it and shake. I will leave it up to the caucus to decide whether to drink it or spay it on. This aught to be rich watching that debate.

Up 12 Down 4

Black hole liberalism on Jun 23, 2022 at 7:13 am

While I agree that, “The Liberals have completely lost their direction and marbles…” the whole idea “… with high inflation, gas prices, food prices, housing prices, rental rates and interest rates…” is to push the reset button by bankrupting Canadians so that the spoils can be bought up cheaply.

Where you say, “… all they can talk about is renewable energy and climate change, missing and murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-spirit+ People Strategy…” you have touched on the diversion, the bait and switch. While everyone is wrestling with the inanities of pronouns, genders, diversity, sexual orientations, and whether men can have babies the commons is collapsed…

These issues become the black hole of societal discourse from which nothing can escape… Meanwhile your money is being thrown about so that others can buy up the commons… This is why so many individuals are fleeing the Yukon, they have been priced out of the market.

The great reset has begun and is well underway. It’s picking up momentum. But you know what, hang in there though, you might be able to lease some land for 99 years - Wink, wink you’ve been hoodwinked! But you knew it was coming, they told you it was coming, and yet you voted for it! Pick me, pick me… Like a baby seal staring blankly at the club wielding cultural supremacist - Thump, thump, thump…

You are now the commodity… Seal meat, and seal skin jacket! “We” really are a bunch of useful idiots, aren’t “we”. The peculiarity of self-flagellation becomes a societal value and your narrative is flipped. WTF people?!?!

Up 15 Down 7

bonanzajoe on Jun 22, 2022 at 8:36 pm

@Moose on Jun 21. Maybe the YP just wanted to save the tax payers several thousands of dollars on waste. Was there really a need for the meeting just to discuss renewable energy, climate change, missing and murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-spirit+ People Strategy? How many people even care about it? Not I.

Up 21 Down 7

Charlie's Aunt on Jun 22, 2022 at 3:45 pm

It does say some attended virtually but too bad they had all not been educated on the use of Zoom.
It doesn't say whether they flew in so look on positive side, maybe Silver & co either paddled or hiked to reduce carbon emissions!!!!

Up 21 Down 6

MITCH on Jun 22, 2022 at 3:10 pm

Really going out of their way to avoid those protests huh?

Up 21 Down 10

John on Jun 22, 2022 at 2:30 pm

@ Moose

Perhaps you need to get educated. Reconciliation was not even on the table when the YP were in office.

I am always amazed at how ignorant Liberals are of the facts - but then they like to create a "some people remember it differently the others" scenario - taken from a page from Mr Socks in Ottawa.

Up 16 Down 32

Moose on Jun 21, 2022 at 9:11 pm

@Taxpayer - At least the Liberals are holding the forum. The Yukon Party didn't even care enough to hold it. They threw reconciliation with First Nations out the window in favor of the Good Ol Boys Club instead.

Up 30 Down 5

AdmiralA$$ on Jun 21, 2022 at 5:34 pm

Hahahaha... government that cares. Now that is the joke of the year. Almost spat my water out.

Priceless.

Up 9 Down 35

Wilf on Jun 21, 2022 at 3:41 pm

In that it was a leaders forum, Curry wisely stayed away realizing he has nothing to offer.

Up 48 Down 12

Where have all the democracies gone? on Jun 20, 2022 at 8:58 pm

Hey, ho there Silver, was Kate White there too? You’re not subverting democracy again are you?

Up 63 Down 16

bonanzajoe on Jun 20, 2022 at 8:53 pm

The Liberals have completely lost their direction and marbles. With high inflation, gas prices, food prices, housing prices, rental rates and interest rates, all they can talk about is renewable energy and climate change, missing and murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-spirit+ People Strategy. Give it a rest already. We need to elect a government that cares for the people and Territory.

Up 64 Down 13

Yukon taxpayer on Jun 20, 2022 at 5:33 pm

And how much did it cost to fly all the chiefs, ministers and staff to old crow for a meeting?

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