The Yukon government applauds the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation (VGFN) for declaring a climate change emergency last month.

But it fell short of committing to doing the same last week.

Speaking from Carmacks last Thursday afternoon, Premier Sandy Silver’s remarks came on the heels of the Yukon Forum.

It featured Grand Chief Peter Johnston of the Council of Yukon First Nations and Little Salmon-Carmacks First Nation Chief Russell Blackjack.

“As Yukon government, we’ll continue down our path with our integrated strategy,” Silver said after he commended the VGFN for its “elegant” presentation earlier in the day about the impacts climate change is having on its land.

The northern-most community in the territory officially declared a state of emergency in May, noting it’s threatening Old Crow’s way of life.

“The conversations went toward every government needs to be working ... in tandem,” Silver said, likening it to taking “different approaches.

“We’re working with them right now, on activities to prepare ourselves for emergencies and we’re going to continue.”

Johnston noted he was happy to see it becoming more of a priority.

“We really need champions at the end of the day, especially from a government level to help move the discussion (forward),” he said, adding YG is slowly making efforts to alleviate plastic waste, for example.

He also placed emphasis on a “pan-northern perspective,” while the premier referenced the carbon tax set to hit the territory July 1.

“We have our strategies in place; it’s good to see the Vuntut Gwitchin with their strategies in place,” Silver said.

“There’s no one magic way of doing things; everybody has their own approaches, and we can support those approaches.”

Silver is likely to be faced with many of the same questions in just a matter of months, this time in the legislature.

That’s after the Yukon NDP said in a May 23 statement it will ask YG to take a page out of VGFN’s book and follow suit by declaring its own climate emergency during this fall’s sitting.

“The decision of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation to declare a climate change emergency truly reflects the urgency and seriousness with which we need to be treating this issue,” said NDP Leader Kate White, who attended Caribou Days and the declaration in Old Crow.

In addition to committing to declaring a climate emergency, the NDP will be soliciting input from Yukon First Nation governments, municipalities, NGOs and the public throughout the summer to hear their ideas on tangible steps the territorial government can take to mitigate the effects of climate change and help reduce the reliance on fossil fuels.

“The declaration of a climate emergency is an important step in raising awareness of the effects of climate change in Yukon,” said White.

“We’ve seen so many instances of Yukon First Nation governments, Yukon communities and the Yukon public showing leadership on addressing climate change, and it’s time for Yukon Government to follow suit.”

Last week’s forum also brought forth the signing of a heritage management agreement.

It addresses things like archaeological and paleontological discoveries, the stewardship of heritage and historic sites, and cultural artifacts.

Other topics discussed included plans around education, the territory’s health and social services review and wildland fire management.

The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls was also top of mind as its final report was shared today in west Quebec.

An embargoed copy was made available last week to Jeanie Dendys, the minister responsible for the Women’s Directorate.