Kwanlin Dün First Nation

On February 14, 1973, a delegation of Yukon First Nations leaders presented Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau with Together Today for our Children Tomorrow.

Throughout the pandemic, the team worked with Chiefs and administrative staff in Yukon First Nations. They also worked hard to meet regularly with various branches of the Yukon and federal governments.

Kusawa Territorial Park (park in progress) is designated as a Special Management Area in two Land Claim Agreements and is part of three Traditional Territories: Carcross/Tagish, Champagne and Aishihik, and Kwanlin Dün First Nations.

Land ownership and management was a major reason that the Yukon Final and Self-Government Agreements were negotiated. These agreements give direction on who owns the land and how decisions about land are made.

The Umbrella Final Agreement (UFA) and Final Agreements called for the creation of over 20 boards, committees and councils.

Judy Gingell and Sam Johnston talk about developing the historic position paper Together Today For Our Children Tomorrow, traveling to Ottawa in 1973 and presenting it to then-prime minister Pierre Trudeau.

For more than 40 years, Judy has promoted and advanced Indigenous rights and governance in the Yukon. Judy was part of the 1973 delegation to Ottawa that initiated the Yukon land claims negotiation process. As Chair of the Council of Yukon First Nations (1989-1995), she was instrumental in self-governance and land claims negotiation with the Government of Canada.

The Kwanlin Dün First Nation Final Agreement provided for the development of the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre on the Whitehorse waterfront. This represents Kwanlin Dün’s return to the Yukon River, the First Nation’s traditional home.