NDP MLA Kate White is asking the premier to admit he used tactless language to describe the government’s work in addressing the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls in the Yukon.

Premier Darrell Pasloski said the territory is “punching above its weight” in reference to its action on violence against indigenous women and girls.

He made the comment following last Friday’s Intergovernmental Forum, where First Nations chiefs and federal and territorial government leaders met to discuss issues relevant to all governments.

“I was deeply disappointed to hear the premier state that the Yukon was, and I quote: ‘punching above its weight’ on the issue of missing and murdered indigenous women,” White told the legislature Wednesday.

She then called on the premier to confess that his use of an idiom suggesting violence was “offensive, and contrary to the goals of reconciliation,” given the context.

“This is a territory suffering from distressingly high incidents of violence against women,” she told the house.

“Mr. Speaker, there are 39 missing or murdered indigenous women and girls identified in Yukon. This choice of phrase was inappropriate, and re-victimizing in nature,” she said.

The premier used the phrase metaphorically, cabinet spokesperson Dan MacDonald told the Star Wednesday.

He said Pasloski was expressing the fact that the Yukon’s action to end to violence against indigenous women and girls in the territory has been recognized in Ottawa.

“(Federal Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Carolyn) Bennett and other folks have recognized and acknowledged the work that Chief (Doris) Bill (of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation) and Doris Anderson (president of Yukon Aboriginal Women’s Council) when they went to the national roundtable and when they did the preparatory work with conference calls,” MacDonald said.

“Minister Bennett acknowledged their collaborative approach.”

Pasloski made the comment during a press conference with Bennett, Council of Yukon First Nations Grand Chief Ruth Massie, Chief Eric Fairclough of Little Salmon/Carmacks First Nation and Chief Steve Smith of Champagne and Aishihik First Nations.

Pasloski’s exact words were:

“We had some great discussion on a couple things – the murdered and missing indigenous women and girls – and I really want to acknowledge the leadership of Chief Doris Bill, Doris Anderson, in fact all the leaders of the Yukon women’s aboriginal organizations, and minister Elaine Taylor.

“To listen to the minister (Bennett) talk about Yukoners leading the way in this country – I like to use that phrase ‘punching above our weight’ – and again, it was appreciated to hear the acknowledgement of the work that’s being done in the territory.”

In February, Bill, Anderson and Taylor co-chaired a regional roundtable in Whitehorse on missing and murdered indigenous women and girls, where family members of victims spoke about their experiences and made recommendations to help prevent future violence. About 70 family members of victims were present.

“I am also grateful for the leadership that the First Nations and the Yukon government have given in terms of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls,” Bennett told last Friday’s press conference.

“ ... It was a such an important day for me as we go forward on this really important commitment to listen to the families and to be able to provide concrete solutions that will stop this tragedy.”

During question period Wednesday, White also asked the premier to apologize for suggesting that refereeing the recent 39th annual Native Hockey Tournament was an act of reconciliation.

In the legislature on Monday, the premier said, “There has been much done by the public government ... when it comes to the calls to action on truth and reconciliation. There are many paths to reconciliation.”

He then gave his refereeing of several games at the hockey tournament as an example.

White labelled this assertion offensive and called on the premier to apologize for it.

“Many were rightfully offended to hear the premier’s comments,” White said.

“Stable funding and access to community sports programs that reflect the cultures and traditions and aboriginal peoples would be a step toward reconciliation by this government, but the premier refereeing a hockey game is not.”

The premier has yet to confirm precisely which of the Truth and Reconcilition Commission report’s 94 calls to action his government has implemented or will work toward adopting.