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Hamilton Spectator
16-06-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Who is running to be CYFN Grand Chief?
The Council of Yukon First Nations Grand Chief is set to be elected at the CYFN annual general meeting in Teslin on June 25. There are five candidates in the running. This election is unique in that the person elected will be taking on the responsibilities of both the CYFN Grand Chief, and the Assembly of First Nations Yukon Regional Chief, due to a consolidation announced earlier this month. Grand Chief Peter Johnston has held the position since 2016, having been the only candidate to put his name forward and winning by acclamation in 2016, 2019, and 2022. He is not running for re-election. Grand chiefs are elected by representatives from the Youth Council, Elders' Council, and from each member and associate member of CYFN. Associate members include Gwich'in Tribal Council Ehditat Gwich'in Council, Tetlit Gwich'in Council, Taku River Tlingit First Nation, Nihtat Gwich'in Council and Gwichya Gwich'in Council. Candidates who in the running are: Math'ieya Alatini, Pauline Frost, Rose Sellars, Ed Schultz and Steve Smith. Alatini is currently the chief strategist at her own business, GSD Strategies. She is also the CEO and board chair of OneYukon Coalition, a non-profit focused on health and wellness. Alatini served as the chief of Kluane First Nation, elected first in 2010 at 38. She did not seek re-election after her second term: instead, she ran for the territorial Liberal Party in the 2016 election. She called herself a 'child of the agreements.' In a May 30 interview with the News, Alatini said her priorities as chief would include addressing the social effects associated with increased drug and alcohol use in the territory, including an increased crime rate . Economic diversification in the territory is also a key priority in the wake of the loss of Eagle Gold Mine, said Alatini. While increasing tourism is an opportunity, she said it is important to consider the threshold for that. Education, and continued support of the First Nations School Board and Education Directorate are important to her, Alatini said. She also wants to see more place-based learning for Yukon First Nations. 'Instead of them having to come to Whitehorse, try to find a house in this housing market, they could receive that education in their community, whether that's through the Community Campus or through online learning,' she said of learners. 'You don't want to disrupt your entire social fabric, your support network, to further your education,' Alatini said. Alatini also said Chapter 22 of the Umbrella Final Agreement, dealing with economic development, could be used to help address some of the capacity issues First Nations governments are currently struggling with. She said the chapter's goals are not fully realized yet. 'I think there is a role for a central body such as CYFN to really push those envelopes,' she said. Pauline Frost, who is currently the chief of Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation, has also thrown her name in for the position of CYFN Grand Chief. She also served as health minister on former premier Sandy Silver's cabinet. She lost the riding of Vuntut Gwitchin to NDP Annie Blake in 2021, after a perfect tie let to Blake taking the seat by random draw . Frost was unavailable for an inteview prior to the News' deadline. Schultz is a member of Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation, where he also served as deputy chief from 2016 to 2019. He was the first First Nations councillor on Whitehorse city council, elected in 1991. He previously served as the Grand Chief for CYFN from 2000 to 2005, before stepping down to run for the leadership of the Yukon Liberal Party. He currently works as a liaison between Little Salmon Carmacks and the Casino mining corporation. Schultz said one of his priorities was addressing the drug-related deaths happening in the territory. 'I don't believe that the way we're approaching the issue is, is one that's getting the results that we're hoping, which is to reduce the number of deaths as a result of addictions,' he said. Schultz lost his own son to opioids. 'It's something that I think, that I know has affected so many families,' Schultz said. He said there needs to be a greater measure of deliberate strategy, for communities to raise awareness about the dangers associated with the use of opioids. Communities should have appropriate facilities for detoxing and aftercare, Schultz said. Schultz also said to tackle things like drug deaths in the territory, there needs to be a united approach among Yukon First Nations. 'I think there's been a serious deterioration of the traditional relationships that we had in the modern age, particularly after the treaties came into being, there seemed to be a more splintering of the First Nations,' Schultz said. Cohesion is also necessary, said Schultz, to address the world that CYFN finds itself in. There's been a focus on critical minerals and ' nation-building ' projects, with implications for the Yukon, he said. 'First Nations need to get more unified and have a more uniform and united approach to how we get engaged with our communities, with the proponents, with regulatory agencies, and discuss the mitigation measures necessary to ensure that these large-scale type projects can significantly reduce the negative effects that they always bring,' he said. Sellars is a member and former council member of Carcross/Tagish First Nation. She also ran for the Liberal Party nomination in Copperbelt South in 2016. She is currently the Indigenous partnership manager for the Yukon Environmental Socio-economic Assessment Board (YESAB). Sellars said if elected, she would consult the First Nations on their priorities. 'There are things that I feel are important that I would like to talk to them about, but nothing yet that I've determined are the priorities,' she told the News in an interview on June 3. Sellars said Yukon First Nations should come together collectively for their children's future, as well as issues that seem universal, such as housing, health and education and land. Sellars said she's looking ahead to the formation of the territory's health authority. It will be important to ensure communication is happening on this matter with and within CYFN, she said. She also mentioned the changes made to federal Jordan's Principle funding as being a concern. The changes introduced in February 2025 set limits around the type of funding requests that would be approved. She said Yukon First Nations are sometimes 'going it alone.' With issues like mining and education, which are collectively experienced by multiple different First Nations, it would be better to come together, Sellars said. Determining how to work together is another consideration, Sellars said, noting the merger of positions of AFN regional chief and CYFN grand chief. 'My vision for CYFN is —it's pretty simple— I think Council for Yukon First Nations should be a strong, united voice that makes a difference in our Yukon First Nation people's lives.' Smith served two terms as the chief of Champagne and Aishihik First Nations, from 2014 to 2022. He is currently the executive director of the Yukon First Nations Chamber of Commerce. Speaking with the News on May 27, he said there is one main challenge facing Yukon First Nations. 'That is to get the leadership all on the same page and in the same room. That's the major challenge that is going on. I think everything else is a doable situation,' he said. With the dissolution of the AFN regional chief position, and transfer of their responsibilities to the next CYFN grand chief, Smith said CYFN will have to consider its responsibilities to the First Nations in the territory who have not signed final agreements. Therefore, sorting out what a new CYFN will look like is key, said Smith. Beyond that, the upcoming territorial minerals legislation will be a focus, said Smith. The campaign was just beginning when Smith spoke with the News. 'It's really just about beginning to have some one-on-one time with the leaders to get an idea of where they want to go and if they see me fitting in or not,' said Smith. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? 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Hamilton Spectator
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
AFN Yukon and CYFN chief positions set to be consolidated this year
According to a statement from the Council of Yukon First Nations, effective Oct. 1, 2025 the positions of Grand Chief and AFN Yukon Regional Chief will be merged into one. The consolidation comes out of resolutions made by Yukon First Nation chiefs at the Assembly of First Nations Yukon Chiefs Summit on May 21 and 22, as well as a May 30 Council of Yukon First Nations Leadership meeting. 'The new model is intended to streamline governance, reduce duplication, and strengthen national and political advocacy grounded in the shared priority of all 14 Yukon First Nations,' reads the statement. The consolidation was being discussed since spring 2024, reads the statement. Chiefs arrived at the consensus to consolidate the two positions into a 'unified Grand Chief model' after a substantive review process and much discussion, per the statement. CYFN Grand Chief Peter Johnston is quoted as saying that the decision will help unify efforts and advance the interests of all Yukon First Nations. AFN Yukon Regional Chief Kluane Adamek is quoted in the release as saying that the new model will allow for stronger advocacy. It will ensure 'that Yukon First Nations are not only heard, but are leading the conversation both regionally and nationally,' per Adamek. Elections for the new Council of Yukon First Nations Grand Chief will be held on June 25 at the CYFN general assembly meeting in Teslin. Five candidates are currently in the running for the position: former Kluane First Nation Chief Math'ieya Alatini, current Vuntut Gwitchin Chief Pauline Frost, former Carcross Tagish First Nation councillor Rose Sellars, former CYFN Grand Chief Ed Schultz and former Champagne and Aishihik First Nations Chief Steve Smith. Whoever ends up winning the election will assume the duties and responsibilities formerly held by the AFN Regional Chief, per the statement. The new grand chief will also be responsible for a 'regional mandate review to assess how Yukon First Nations are currently supported,' reads the statement. The CYFN constitution will have to be amended, and the proposed changes to the constitution will be presented at the CYFN general assembly, ensuring all 14 Yukon First Nations will have voting rights. Financial resources, authority and responsibilities associated with the AFN Yukon Regional Chief will also be transferred to the CYFN. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
CBC
04-06-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Council of Yukon First Nations, AFN to combine leadership roles into 1
Change aims to 'streamline governance, reduce duplication and strengthen national and political advocacy' Yukon First Nations have decided to unify a couple of regional leadership roles into one — meaning the next grand chief of the Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN) will have some new responsibilities. Starting in October, the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) will no longer have a Yukon regional chief who's independent of CYFN. That person's duties and responsibilities will be taken up by the next CYFN grand chief. The two organizations began discussing the idea since last year and both passed resolutions last month to make it happen. The goal, according to a joint news release on Wednesday, is to "streamline governance, reduce duplication and strengthen national and political advocacy grounded in the shared priorities of all 14 Yukon First Nations." Currently, Yukon is represented at the AFN — an Ottawa-based national advocacy group — by Yukon Regional Chief Kluane Adamek, who has served in that role since 2018. CYFN is a non-profit political organization based in the territory that represents and advocates for Yukon First Nations, with the grand chief serving as the main political spokesperson. Peter Johnston has held that role since 2016 and has said he won't be running for another term. Image | Peter Johnston and Kluane Adamek Caption: Peter Johnson, grand chief of the Council of Yukon First Nations, left, and Kluane Adamek, regional chief of the Assembly of First Nations, in 2019. (Steve Silva/CBC) Open Image in New Tab Under the new model, the CYFN grand chief will now represent Yukon First Nations at AFN executive meetings. However, that person "will not lead an AFN portfolio or sit on the AFN corporate board without a direct mandate from Yukon First Nations," reads Wednesday's news release. "This approach reflects a made-in-Yukon solution — directed by all 14 Chiefs — that aligns with regional governance realities while maintaining a strategic national presence." The next grand chief of CYFN will be elected this month. They would take on the new AFN-related responsibilities as of Oct. 1. In a written statement, Johnston called the change "a significant step forward in unifying our effort and advancing the interests of all Yukon First Nations." Adamek also touted the decision as a way to ensure Yukon First Nations have a stronger voice through "co-ordinated advocacy." "This is about amplifying the collective voices of all Yukon First Nations in a way that reflects who we are: united, visionary and rooted in our values," she said.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Council of Yukon First Nations, AFN to combine leadership roles into 1
Yukon First Nations have decided to unify a couple of regional leadership roles into one — meaning the next grand chief of the Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN) will have some new responsibilities. Starting in October, the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) will no longer have a Yukon regional chief who's independent of CYFN. That person's duties and responsibilities will be taken up by the next CYFN grand chief. The two organizations began discussing the idea since last year and both passed resolutions last month to make it happen. The goal, according to a joint news release on Wednesday, is to "streamline governance, reduce duplication and strengthen national and political advocacy grounded in the shared priorities of all 14 Yukon First Nations." Currently, Yukon is represented at the AFN — an Ottawa-based national advocacy group — by Yukon Regional Chief Kluane Adamek, who has served in that role since 2018. CYFN is a non-profit political organization based in the territory that represents and advocates for Yukon First Nations, with the grand chief serving as the main political spokesperson. Peter Johnston has held that role since 2016 and has said he won't be running for another term. Under the new model, the CYFN grand chief will now represent Yukon First Nations at AFN executive meetings. However, that person "will not lead an AFN portfolio or sit on the AFN corporate board without a direct mandate from Yukon First Nations," reads Wednesday's news release. "This approach reflects a made-in-Yukon solution — directed by all 14 Chiefs — that aligns with regional governance realities while maintaining a strategic national presence." The next grand chief of CYFN will be elected this month. They would take on the new AFN-related responsibilities as of Oct. 1. In a written statement, Johnston called the change "a significant step forward in unifying our effort and advancing the interests of all Yukon First Nations." Adamek also touted the decision as a way to ensure Yukon First Nations have a stronger voice through "co-ordinated advocacy." "This is about amplifying the collective voices of all Yukon First Nations in a way that reflects who we are: united, visionary and rooted in our values," she said.
CBC
18-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Whitehorse gallery exhibit shows off beauty and artistry of beaded earrings
Nine. That's the number of times the word "bougie" was used in the Yukon Legislature on Wednesday, as MLAs from all three parties paid tribute to Teagyn Vallevand's first show as curator of the Hudę Njú Kú gallery in Whitehorse's Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre. The show, which opened on March 14, is titled My Big Bougie Beaded* Earrings. "I put … an asterisk because we didn't always use beads," Vallevand said. "We utilized other resources that are Yukon First Nations-specific." Those Yukon-specific resources included home tanned hide, fish leather, porcupine quills, shells, foxtails, whale baleen, and at least five different kinds of fur, which were all found in the earrings at the gallery — along with modern seed beads, copper cones, commercial hide, sapphires, rubies, vinyl and rhinestones. "I just love being able to learn and work with our traditional art styles," Vallevand said. "And then also, as an artist, playing with, 'What does contemporary Indigenous artwork mean?'" Vallevand is a Kwanlin Dun citizen. In addition to being a curator, she is a beader, weaver and carver. She said she was was blown away by the interest in her first exhibit. Expecting to receive around 20 sets of earrings, she ended up getting 53 submissions from artists across the North. "Yukon First Nations artisans went hard," she said. Earrings as entrepreneurship Twenty-one pieces ended up on the gallery walls, but Vallevand didn't want to leave the others out. Instead, she added a retail element to the show. The earrings that didn't make it to the main exhibit are displayed in glass cases, and are available for sale. "I feel like as an Indigenous artist, so many of us have made earrings," Vallevand says. "I know for myself as an artist, a couple of times I would sell earrings to make a couple extra dollars here and there to help support myself." Many placards in the gallery shared stories of how beadwork connected the artists with their communities, their cultures and their ancestors. Many of the artists learned to bead from their grandmothers, great-grandmothers or uncles, and are now passing the skill on to future generations. Vallevand said beadwork can also be a survival skill, with women selling their work to help provide for their families. "I wanted to honour that," she said. Living art and stories What Vallevand wanted to honour is the idea that beadwork isn't a historical art form meant to hang on a museum wall. It's living, breathing culture, she said. "I think it's really important now to have space as a Yukon First Nations curator to be able to … do things a little bit differently than how a normal exhibition works." Vallevand says for her, being a curator is about storytelling. Her father was a storyteller at CBC, and she says in her new role, "I feel like I'm also telling a story. And so I feel really connected to him." As for being recognized in the Legislature, Vallevand says she wasn't expecting the kudos to come one after the other, from all three parties. "I kind of felt like the queen," she says. "It was very cute."
