Photo by Whitehorse Star
Pictured Above: DARRELL PASLOSKI and RUTH MASSIE
Premier's refusal to talk alienates CYFN
Premier Darrell Pasloski has declined an invitation to meet with First Nation chiefs.
Premier Darrell Pasloski has declined an invitation to meet with First Nation chiefs.
The Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN) said in a statement Monday afternoon it's "extremely disappointed that the premier chose not to accept a dialogue with the chiefs.”
On Sept. 1, CYFN Grand Chief Ruth Massie asked all the territorial party leaders, Yukon MP Ryan Leef and Yukon Senator Dan Lang to talk to First Nation chiefs.
Massie wanted to discuss the fate of the Peel watershed and how the new resource royalty-sharing agreement will work, among other issues facing First Nations.
"This is seen as a disrespectful gesture from the Yukon Party and an indication of the Yukon Party's lack of commitment to work with Yukon First Nations and address our concerns and issues,”Massie said in the release.
"It is important for Yukon First Nations to work co-operatively with whatever party forms the next Yukon government.”
The CYFN said Pasloski refused to meet with it due to other commitments.
The Yukon Party did not send a copy of Pasloski's letter declining the CYFN's invitation, nor any comment on the issue, before press time this afternoon.
NDP Leader Liz Hanson spoke to the CYFN leadership Monday afternoon.
She told the Star this morning that conversation ranged from child welfare to education to resource revenue-sharing.
More specifically, Hanson said, the group spoke about the frustrations First Nation communities have felt about their working relationship with the territorial government.
As for the premier's choice to decline the CYFN's invitation, Hanson said it's just a continuation of what she has heard from Yukoners.
"It's a lack of respect exhibited by this government,” she said.
Arthur Mitchell, leader the Yukon Liberal Party, Kristina Calhoun, leader of the Yukon Green Party and Gerald Dickson, leader of the newly-formed Yukon First Nations Party, all accepted the CYFN's invitation to speak to the chiefs, as did Leef.
Lang declined the opportunity.
All the leaders are meeting with the chiefs Monday and today.
The CYFN wouldn't comment further on the issue until a press conference set for this afternoon.
By Nadine Sander-Green
Star Reporter
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Comments (6)
Up 0 Down 0
Anyone but the Yukon Red Neck Party on Sep 14, 2011 at 5:37 am
This head line does not hurt the Yukon Neo Conservative Party. I can see some back room strategist saying "course we could make the meeting, but if we don't go we will get a headline (like the one they got) that says we are not pandering to FNs, that is good for the YP because a vast majority of YP supporters have no time or patience for FNs. If it was up to the YP and its supporters there would be no FNs in Yukon.
This headline appeals to the vast majority of YP supporters, so the strategists are doing a good job.
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Francias Pillman on Sep 13, 2011 at 3:35 pm
It's real obvious that Darryl is not a leader. Running from real questions and stuff like this proves he is unfit to lead anything, especially premier. Who do you want Yukon? Another Bev Buckway? Wake up and turf this party that is scared to answer to the people that put them in power.
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Hmmmm on Sep 13, 2011 at 2:47 pm
I have about 30 years of experience working in offices. If I am scheduling a meeting with a large and diverse group, I send out the invitation well in advance with three choices of scheduling. I ask the recipients to place their three choices in order of preference. Then I tally and tabulate the dates that will work best for the most people.
If I were including the government leader, and I placed a high priority on his/her attendance, then I would lean towards the date they prefer and even find new dates to respect their busy schedule.
I would not have my government leader drop everything and scurry around with last minute schedule changes. The calendar would be inked well in advance.
The exception is the annual meeting that happens on the same day every year. For example, Remembrance Day is the 11th Month the 11th day at the 11th hour. On this day the Legion honours its members and all soldiers, standing or fallen. If they served; they are honoured.
If I choose to hold a meeting on this day, I should not be surprised to find it very poorly attended.
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Nile on Sep 13, 2011 at 1:23 pm
CYFN is an organization without a mandate. Its days are numbered and FN groups leave one by one. Ruth is just scared that she is loosing what little power and influence she once had. Better start looking for a new job Ruth.
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JC on Sep 13, 2011 at 8:42 am
Does the FN always expect everybody to just drop everything every time they want to have a talk? Maybe thats a bit disrespectful too.
And what Yukoners are Liz Hanson talking about? A few drunks and panhandlers in the uptown area doesn't represent all Yukoners. Come and ask me and my friends who have been here long before Liz Hanson came up. We will tell her the truth and clue her in on good government
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give me a break on Sep 13, 2011 at 7:33 am
Give me a break. I think it is disrespectful to announce a meeting without sufficient notice and assume that the Premier should drop everything (ie. things that are important to other people) to attend.
Of course the other party leaders are going to attend. Coming up with hair-brained ideas does not take much time.