Photo by Photo Submitted
SIGNING CEREMONY – Premier Darrell Pasloski and leaders of the Kaska Nation signed an agreement this morning in Vancouver aimed at fostering government-to-government relationships. Left to right are Pasloski, Chief Daniel Morris of the Liard First Nation, Chief Jack Caesar of the Ross River Dena Council, chairperson George Miller of the Kaska Dena Council and Dave Porter, a Kaska negotiator. Photo courtesy GOVERNMENT OF YUKON
A framework agreement between the Yukon government and the Kaska Nation includes $3.3 million from the territory to the Kaska for continuing negotiations.
A framework agreement between the Yukon government and the Kaska Nation includes $3.3 million from the territory to the Kaska for continuing negotiations.
The agreement was announced this morning in Vancouver, where the premier and members of his cabinet are attending the annual Mineral Exploration Roundup
“This is truly an historic day,” Premier Darrell Pasloski said by phone this morning.
“The agreement with the Kaska has been sought by every government in the territory.
“What this agreement does is identify the process to go forward.”
Today’s signing was ceremonial, as the pact was signed earlier this month by Chief Jack Caesar of the Ross River Dena Council, chairperson George Miller of the Kaska Dena Council and the premier.
The agreement says: “The objects and purpose of this agreement are to establish government-to-government negotiations between the parties to:
• define their relationship,
• facilitate economic development and capacity building,
• establish collaborative land and resource management, and
• address the social and cultural impacts from land and resource development.”
Under the agreement, the government will provide a total of $3.3 million to finance future discussions and negotiations to the end of March 2017.
“While the Kaska and Yukon do not agree on the specifics or extent of their respective rights, titles, responsibilities or interests, they are committed to reconciling and clarifying their relationship on a government-to-government basis and to building effective and respectful partnerships to achieve their respective objectives based on mutual recognition and shared responsibilities,” says the framework agreement.
The agreement covers the Kaska’s traditional territory in the southeast Yukon and northwestern B.C.
It provides an avenue to discuss the transboundary interest the Kaska Dena Council of northern B.C. to discuss its interests in the Yukon.
The agreement calls for the parties to discuss management of lands and resources in the areas of forestry, oil and gas, mining, infrastructure, energy and land dispositions.
There is, for instance, $300,000 going to the Kaska specifically to fund “substantive negotiations” related to the forest sector.
Spokeswoman Shari-Lynn MacLelland of the Yukon government’s aboriginal affairs branch said this morning the moratorium on staking mineral claims in the Ross River area is still in place.
The moratorium will remain in place until the Ross River Dena Council and the Yukon can reach an arrangement under a separate mineral agreement regarding which areas are to be available for staking, she said.
The frame agreement provides for the negotiations to reach separate mineral agreements which will remain confidential until they are signed off.
The framework also provides an avenue for the Liard First Nation to have a say in the reconstruction project for the Robert Campbell Highway and share in the economic benefits.
“These agreements are a milestone towards reconciliation and a renewed relationship between the Yukon government and the Kaska Nation,” Pasloski said in a press release issued this morning.
“By signing these agreements, we are committing to building partnerships and co-operation between our governments and increasing certainty and opportunities for economic and mineral development in southeast Yukon.”
Chief Caesar said in the press release: “These framework negotiations will address far more than development.
“We have always lived here and will continue to after projects end and others move on.
“Our participation in decision-making is essential, as we have a sacred obligation to protect our lands for future generations so we are working towards agreements that will ensure that Kaska values inform land and resource decision-making.
“This is not an either-or situation. The resource options are so vast that we believe, with careful planning, selection, development, monitoring and application of best practices, it will be possible to identify and benefit from appropriate projects while respecting our culture, protecting the environment and building partnerships.”
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Comments (14)
Up 0 Down 3
Rebut Al on Jan 31, 2016 at 3:20 am
@Contemporary Academic, please keep your comments shorter or run for political office.
In a different vein, I was under the impression that Fentie had signed an under the table deal with the Kaska during his reign. What happened to that?
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Goferit on Jan 29, 2016 at 6:09 pm
I'm sorry to see that the brighter future for all Yukoners fails to admit the wild life into this magic circle. By the way it is important to remind ourselves of the true definition of a Yukoner: Yu Kon them before they Kon you.
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Rosa D. on Jan 29, 2016 at 9:20 am
To: Contemporary Academic: Spoken like a true Yukon Party supporter. I am fed up with the Yukon Party and will not be casting a vote for any of them.
Further, 'third world' is a description of how various countries are aligned:
"The term Third World arose during the Cold War to define countries that remained non-aligned with either NATO, or the Communist Bloc. The United States, Western European nations and their allies represented the First World, (primarily capitalists) while the Soviet Union, China, Cuba, and their allies represented the Second World." The countries that chose to remain isolated from either the Communist Bloc or NATO, are Third World. These countries do tend to be underdeveloped and so 3rd world came to be associated with poor and extreme poverty. Three quarters of the world are classified as '3rd world'.
Hope this information is helpful to you.
Rosa Delanor
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Really on Jan 28, 2016 at 1:25 pm
Contemporary Academic- Yes I have been to third world countries, by any other name the same social economic divide exists at extreme levels. Have you ever been to first nation homes in Lower Post, Watson Lake, Good Hope Lake or Ross River? Many people there are still without running water or adequate housing and no real employment while they see wealthy generations all around them, for decades. Academic analysis is a great learning exercise, hardly enough to close the gap. I however hope like you, that this is the real deal this time. And by the way, this agreement is not a land claims and self-government agreement, it's an economic one which is a far cry different.
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Contemporary Academic on Jan 28, 2016 at 9:11 am
I would say the relative quickness is in part due to the election, but please do not be so narrow minded that you think that these agreements materialize overnight. In reality they can take decades. The UFA process started in the 1970s and didn't see any actual results until the early 90s, which at first was only 4 groups signing on. The fact that this had taken 10 years is relatively quick speaking historically (this also started much more recently than 10 years ago). The reality is you have both sides trying to maintain as much control as possible and they both likely start at far extremes, the court decision likely cut their extremes down greatly and the fact is that there is a positive outcome in only a relatively short time (in history a few years is fast). I don't fault either side for sticking to their guns, I mean what would you do just hand it over? People are placing WAY too much emphasis on human agency, where the fault lies more with the way the process occurs. Sure fault the government for the process, but there isn't many other places that are so positive on this topic.
After the case neither side would want to give in, but a change in leadership on one sided yield the reality that in making concessions progress will be made. By the sounds of it Kaska will be at the table for future development talks and they can help dictate what goes to market and where it comes from. That should help them secure traditional areas, resource development, economic growth for isolated communities, and provide an additional source of employment to their communities. Word of wisdom from a historian though, ensure you reinvest that capital into long term economic development projects.
If they are on the same page going forward the government may be enabled to spend infrastructure funds in their areas, in anticipation of a commodities rebound. You have Wolverine, Cantung, and potential in Selwyn and Magtung not to mention several other projects. Not only providing jobs in the short term (constructions, locally bought supplies like gas and food), but long term with the development of mining and regular maintenance.
To you who think that people are living in third world conditions, please tell me you've been to war torn places in Africa? You date yourselves in many ways as Third World is no longer the term used... I'll admit that Whitehorse is a world away, but it is not likely people have no access to food, water, shelter, clean air? As a side note how do you get out of third world conditions, I can tell you it is not by simply opposing everything.
I think the reality has gotten across to most rational citizens that mining is a reality in the territory (all three parties are stating that it is a part of the Yukon's future), without it what would have? We have tourism as our main PRIVATE industry, which is subject to unpredictable market forces as well. Sure it will likely benefit from the dollar, expansive network coverage of the Yukon, and increase intranational tourism. Also need to consider that it is an election year in the states (more people stay home), high personal debt reduces disposable income, larger corporation sales (how are the cruise companies doing)? Tourism can't be our be all end all and mining can certainly help balance that out. What other industry are realistic? Power production, agriculture, people get a grip, sure these are great and will bring in more cash, but they are only supplementary.
I would be cautious with the new Feds as we have already seen a reduction in transfer payments. I mean government will remain a strong employer, but don't keep expecting the cash cow to give easily. It won't matter who makes the next Territorial gov, the Feds seem very Central Canada focus, which doesn't bode well for us.
To close I hope that this deal leads to further certainty with the resource sector. Even though they are likely strapped for cash we still stand a decent chance of seeing more investment. BC is in way worse shape with unsettled claims and other provinces are either against resource development or well saturated. I am no tree hugger and if the yukon can benefit I say all the power to them!
Please keep your comments in perspective.
Up 41 Down 5
Really on Jan 27, 2016 at 2:15 pm
Really! Another agreement brought to by the Kaska Tribal Council and Yukon Party Government. Politics does make for strange bed fellows. I may not be able to recall, but I believe there has a been numerous such arrangements, agreements and understandings before. All of which have amounted to nothing of significance for the Kaska people. Yes, lawyers, consultants and others get their pockets filled, yet, the people continue to suffer terrible conditions, third world like conditions. Shame shame shame.
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ProScience Greenie on Jan 27, 2016 at 10:58 am
As if putting in the Liberal or NDP backroom boys and girls club in charge is going to make one bit of difference. It will be the same old graft, waste, poor decisions and our tax dollars going to their friends.
What we need is a few MLA's that are going to loudly and ceaselessly demand accountability from whatever government is elected and demand a good housecleaning within YTG to get rid of all the mid to upper level sycophants and incompetent employees that are causing a lot of these problems. To date nobody has done anything about it - YP, NDP or Lib.
Up 39 Down 17
Historian on Jan 26, 2016 at 6:08 pm
A "truly historic day"? Really? Well, I guess if one has a rather narrow frame of reference with respect to historical events, sure, why not. Maybe right up there with the day cheese was successfully put into aerosol form.
One thing is for sure, the YP is dolling out the cash like a drunken Jean Chrétien.
Belly up to the trough folks, 'lection times a coming!
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Groucho d'North on Jan 26, 2016 at 5:55 pm
I imagine it's fun to kick the Yukon government on what we imagine the holdup was in moving this government to government relationship to this happy stage, but I also recall a former Chief who was more of a fly in the ointment than a progressive force in creating a positive future. But today is a new day and let’s hope it marks the turnaround for relationships and resource projects that benefit all Yukoners. Kudos to both governments on getting this accomplished.
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June Jackson on Jan 26, 2016 at 2:14 pm
FN aren't stupid..and neither are the Francophones.. they know what the YP is doing and why. If they get elected again, they'll just turn around and screw both of them..
They totally screwed the seniors.. the thing about screwing with seniors is that they all have kids..and grand kids, and friends..their kids don't like to see their Moms and Dads not getting the right medicine because the government won't add it to the formulary..nothing but older, less effective drugs on the formulary for seniors.. Whistle Bend, Pioneer Grant.. I'd be surprised if they got even 1 senior vote..unless its Dougie's mother. So, maybe Graham can count on 2 votes..his and his mother's. Lots of talk about helping seniors stay in their homes, but no action.
Then there is the mining screwups.. golf course scandal, a few years ago ATCO was a huge scandal..now we have ATCO.. the Peel and Fracking..ad infinitum..
Vote YP? Never again.
The Yukon Party.. huge pile of do-do.
Up 48 Down 36
Mike Grieco on Jan 25, 2016 at 6:57 pm
Power and money. Moving "forward" Yukon Party Style
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Long memory on Jan 25, 2016 at 5:31 pm
@ great work
Ya, we're gonna see lots of things done in the next pre election months coming. Stuff that YP didn't do in the past ten years. Too little too late.
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Lost in the Yukon on Jan 25, 2016 at 4:39 pm
Interesting how a looming territorial election has motivated the Pharmacist to try and reach an accord. This should have been done years ago (they have had 11 years to do this) but now with defeat at the ballot box facing them the YP and it's back room boys will do whatever and spend whatever it takes to try and buy the votes sector by sector ... let's see $6,000,000 to buy the soccer vote (well, they tried); $30,000,000 to $50,000,000 to buy the French vote; and what is to come?
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Great work Yukon Party Government on Jan 25, 2016 at 2:49 pm
Thanks to all the hard work by both sides. Building a brighter future for all Yukoners.