Yukon Nations gain time on land claims

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WHITEHORSE-The Carcross/Tagish, Kluane and Kwanlin Dun First Nations got approval from Indian Affairs and Northern Development Minister Robert Nault on Jan. 28 to amend the timelines for completion of their land claim agreements.

The Carcross/Tagish and the Kluane First Nations now expect to conclude their agreements by March and begin the ratification process by mid-March and mid-April respectively.

Nault said, "I know all parties will embrace these ambitious new timetables as their top riority and they will work hard to finalize and successfully ratify these land claim agreements."

The request for an extension came after the nations assessed the amount of remaining legal and technical work.

Negotiators from the three Native governments, the Yukon government and the federal government agreed on their respective submitted workplans.

The White River First Nation did not submit a revised work plan, which Nault noted as an unwillingness on that nation's part to comply with the memorandum of understanding it was a party to last year.

When the participating three First Nations' agreements are finalized, each community will vote on whether to ratify them. A committee will shephard the ratification process for each First Nation.