The territorial government, Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN) and Yukon First Nations met with federal ministers virtually Wednesday to advance shared priorities.

“As in previous years, these trilateral Yukon Days meetings are an opportunity to advance mutual interests through a united voice and identify opportunities for collaboration with the federal government,” the government and CYFN said Thursday.

Themes of this year’s discussions included community safety, First Nations housing, health and salmon management.

Premier Sandy Silver and CYFN Grand Chief Peter Johnston, along with several chiefs and ministers, emphasized the importance of respecting Yukon First Nation Final and Self-Government Agreements and making long-term, sustainable investments in areas that support the wellbeing of all Yukoners.

“Though Yukon Days looked a bit different this year, the meetings with federal ministers and Yukon First Nation chiefs provided an important opportunity to advocate for made-in-Yukon solutions to the challenges we face and reflects our commitment to respectful and collaborative government-to-government relationships,” Silver said.

“Yukon Days enables Yukon First Nations leaders to speak directly to the federal ministers responsible for key portfolios affecting Yukon First Nations,” said Johnston.

“This year’s virtual meeting was an opportunity for Yukon’s chiefs and ministers to present joint priorities together.”

Besides Johnston and Silver, the Yukon delegation included several chiefs and three cabinet ministers.

Over the past days, members of the Yukon delegation met with Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett, Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair, and Northern Affairs Minister Dan Vandal.

They will also meet with Fisheries and Oceans Minister Bernadette Jordan later this month.