Representatives of multiple governments converged Monday at Lake Laberge for the latest Yukon Forum.

They included Premier Ranj Pillai and members of his cabinet, Council of Yukon First Nations Grand Chief Peter Johnston and Yukon First Nations chiefs.

They met at the Ta’an Kwäch’än Council’s Fish Camp at Tàá’an Män (Lake Laberge).

Leaders had collective discussions related to supporting the work of the Residential Schools and Missing Children Project and responding to the Yukon’s substance use health emergency.

Leaders also had a strategic conversation on how to best advance the collaborative work between governments through venues such as Yukon Days, the Intergovernmental Forum and the Yukon Forum itself.

“Yukon Forum continues to be an important opportunity to collectively address challenges and strategize regarding how we can work towards a strong, resilient future together,” Pillai said later Monday.

“Today, we had the privilege of meeting in a beautiful and culturally significant setting to discuss how we can collaboratively address the issues we are facing together as governments, including on the substance use health emergency.

“These conversations are crucial to informing our shared efforts to build a brighter future for all Yukoners. Thank you to the Ta’an Kwäch’än Council for hosting this gathering on their traditional territory.”

Johnston said First Nations “emphasized the urgent need for action on the substance use health emergency as our Yukon First Nation communities are facing tremendous losses in relation to this crisis.

“Yukon First Nations are pleased to see productive discussions and collaboration on key issues impacting our communities through Yukon Forum.”

Ta’an Kwäch’än Council Chief Amanda Leas said her First Nation “is happy to host this gathering of Yukon leaders.

“It is important that we continue to meet collectively to address issues of high priority in Yukon and strengthen our government-to-government relationships.

“A key priority is addressing mental health and the opioid/drug crisis in our territory,” Leas added.

“The extent of this crisis is extreme in many of our communities and is deeply intertwined with the legacy of colonialism, racism and intergenerational trauma, and cuts to the heart of the well-being of our peoples.

“It is only by coming together as one community that we will be able to address this challenge effectively,” the chief said.

The Liberal government elected in late 2016 resurrected the Forum gatherings, which had lapsed during former Yukon Party premier Darrell Pasloski’s 2011-16 regime.

Since the signing of the Working Together Declaration in January 2017, the Forum has met on a quarterly basis.