The Yukon New Democratic Party has been busy fielding candidates for the upcoming territorial election, widely expected to be called this spring.

The party says it has nearly 20 candidates waiting in the wings to be nominated – but most of those haven’t yet been publicly named.

Party leader Kate White says she’s eagerly waiting to unveil those candidates, which should occur in the next few weeks.

“I’m really excited,” she said.

Two of the named candidates, Dave Weir in Haines Junction and Michelle Friesen, have been interviewed by the Star.

“I really didn’t have much choice about deciding to run,” said Weir. “There are changes that need to be made, and the privileged few are in charge. It’s a big social divide I want to be able to speak up and be involved.”

Weir is a former municipal councillor in Haines Junction, and a former member of the local school council.

That means he’s not quite a neophyte when it comes to politics, but he agreed jumping up to the territorial level means a learning curve.

“I served one term each on the council and the school council,” he said.

He left municipal politics in 2016 due to family issues, Weir said. His children were having trouble dealing with the blowback on his stance on various issues, he explained, and they asked him not to run again.

That’s not an issue anymore, Weir said, and he’s prepared to give his potential new position his full attention.

He chose the NDP because “they are real people,” he said. He had pondered all of the parties before making his choice.

“I wasn’t closely aligned with any of the parties, but the people in the NDP I can relate to.”

He said he was particularly impressed with White, who he called “a real inspiration.”

The Kluane riding is held by the Yukon Party’s Wade Istchenko.

Friesen is a Yukon First Nation citizen who works with the Yukon Region of the Assembly of First Nations.

She said she hadn’t picked a riding to run in as yet, but has now settled on Mountainview, represented by Tourism and Culture Minister Jeanie McLean. Friesen is also excited about a chance to work with White.

“I think the decision to run was one of the scariest things I’ve done,” she said. “I’m looking for positive change. I love the Yukon.

“I believe representation really, really matters,” she said. “Women’s voices matter and they need to be heard.”

Friesen said she doesn’t really have much of a political background.

“Unless you want to count me being Rendezvous queen,” she said. “I don’t think you need to have a political background to be a leader. You just have to care.”

Three more candidates – all young aboriginal women – were announced in a Zoom conference call this morning: Ashley Cummings, Patty Wallingham and Francis van Kessel.

“I went looking for community builders; people who aren’t afraid of having hard conversations,” White said of the candidates.

She said she isn’t intentionally recruiting a cast of mostly younger candidates, but she certainly isn’t avoiding them either.

“I’m joined by three powerhouses,” she said, referring to the three women announced this morning.

“I’m not gearing it towards younger people, but it (running for election) hasn’t worked with older people.

“I would never just make a statement,” White continued. “We’re here to win, and I’m really excited.”

Van Kessel ran in Porter Creek North in 2016. The campaign marked her first foray into politics, and left her with the inclination to try again.

Van Kessel is a Teslin Tlingit citizen and an advocate for social inclusion and neuro-diverse awareness.

“I always have happy days,” she said enthusiastically. “Most of the time, anyway.”

Wallingham is best known as an athlete. She is a citizen of the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyak Dun and champion curler who represented the Yukon at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts. 

She’s planning to run in the Mayo-Tatchun riding currently held by Liberal Don Hutton, who is retiring.

It’s the region of her home community, she said, and she’s been interested in returning home for some time.

She said her passion is for youth issues and activities.

Cummings is an Inuk activist who has split her time between Whitehorse and Nunavut.

Like Friesen, she is contesting the NDP nomination in Mountainview.White described Cummings as a “fierce” warrior for mental health issues.

“This isn’t just a job to me,” Cummings said. “I’ve lost too many friends to mental health issues.”

She’s a former member of the Prime Minister’s Youth Council.

“It’s so important we safeguard the future,” said Cummings. “It’s not enough to just make promises; we need to give young people role models who they can look up to. We need to show our youth we will act for them and for their children after them, to make a difference now.”

“This is about building a new future,” said Cunningham. “Indigenous people are facing crises that have been causing harm for years. Going ‘back to normal’ just isn’t an option.

“That’s why I am running – to make a real difference, and I believe in Kate White because she will fight to make a difference too.”