Thirty years of progress celebrated in Whitehorse

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An impressive public ceremony on Feb. 14 at the Elijah Smith Building in Whitehorse launched the beginning of a year-long celebration.

"The event acknowledged the anniversary of the establishment of the Council of Yukon Indians (CYI), now known as the Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN)," explained Alison Blackduck, co-ordinator of the festivities.

"It was on Feb. 14 of 1973 that Yukon Native Brotherhood representatives, headed by Chief Elijah Smith, went to Ottawa to present Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau and his Indian and Northern Affairs Minister Jean Chretien with ground-breaking documents." The historic presentation, entitled Together Today for Our Children Tomorrow, addressed Aboriginal rights, titles and issues, and began Yukon First Nations land negotiations.

A committee was struck to plan and host commemorative events and legacy projects in the coming months, which will honor those who made the historic event happen. The influence of Yukon First Nations on the political, social and cultural progress of Yukon, Canadian, and international society will also be recognized, she said. Since 1973, eight First Nation land claim and self-government agreements have been achieved. Three more are pending and should be finished this spring.

"Important implications of these final arrangements include the freedom to manage health and education, but the most significant is the right to manage resources," said Blackduck, whose regular job is communications co-ordinator for the claims and devolution branch of the CYFN. "An example is the Yukon Fish and Wildlife Management Board, which is a tripartite organization consisting of representatives from YFN, as well as government and non-government personnel. Together they are ensuring that everybody in the Yukon is living up to the conditions in umbrella final agreements."

Historically, Chief Smith was viewed as a go-getter and a great leader. "He got input from the grassroots people, and over a five-year period he and others working with him put together the information which led to the original document of 1973," said Blackduck. It was the first time that a group of Canadian Native people had prepared such a document, which was based on the idea that First Nations of the Yukon Territory had the right to self-determination. The statement outlined Aboriginal rights and claims to the original traditional homelands.

Another significant leader who was one of the delegates in Ottawa thirty years ago is Judy Gingell. She was chair of the CYI when the umbrella final agreements were signed in 1993. "These agreements will create a new and positive relationship between the governments of Canada, the Yukon and First Nations," Gingell said then. "They will give Yukon First Nations the ability to govern themselves, jurisdiction over settlement lands and shared jurisdiction on non-settlement lands, generate tax revenue, and create laws. Certainty of ownership and jurisdiction over lands will help social, political and economic growth." Gingell became the first Aboriginal woman commissioner of the Yukon, and currently she is the president of the Kwanlun Dun Development Corporation.

Upcoming events include a festival on June 21, which is celebrated across Canada as National Aboriginal Awareness Day. The event will incorporate the Gathering of Traditions Potlatch with CYFN festivities. "We have invited Prime Minister Chretien, and his attendance would be especially significant when remembering that he was the minister for Indian affairs in 1973," said Blackduck.

A governance conference is tentatively planned for September, which will welcome youth involvement.

"We're looking at how to move forward with the resources that we have," Blackduck added. "The energy of the people present at the February 14 event was wonderful. Most of the original delegation was in attendance and we had a good representation of government officials as well." More than 500 people were treated to dnce and other cultural presentations. "There are so many people who have been involved over the years that everybody feels very positive about the progress."

People reminisced about 1973. "They shared some laughs about the fact that they all originally thought the land claims and other negotiations might take six months, or maybe a year," she said. "Most First Nations in the Yukon Territory feel like they are able to move forward. There is lots of work ahead for us, but we are looking forward to it. We have increased hope for the future."