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Opening Prayer: Elder Hazel Bunbury–Ta’an Kwäch’än Council

Opening Address:
Regional Chief Eric Morris–Assembly of First Nations, Yukon
Councilor Jessie Dawson–Kwanlin Dün First Nation
Chief Brenda Sam–Ta'an Kwäch'än Council

Keynote Address Ensuring Future Success
National Chief Shawn A–in–chut Atleo–AFN

A look back through the eyes of the individuals who negotiated the Yukon Final and Self–Government Agreements. What impact did they believe the agreements and what were the expectations when the negotiating finished? Fifteen years later, have their expectations been met and what advice do they have for the Parties for the next fifteen years, and to those First Nations just embarking on the self–government journey.

Keynote Address:Nation Building and Governance
Regional Chief Jody Wilson Raybould–AFN, B.C. Region

Keynote Address:Regional Chief Angus Toulouse–AFN, Ontario Region

A look at the various ways effective date was dealt with across the country. What were the challenges, how were those overcome, and what advice would be given to those nearing their own effective date?

Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Business:
Dennis Brunner–Senior Advisor INAC
Dolores Coelho–Program Officer PSAB–INAC

A session specifically for aboriginal business hosted by Canada. This session is intended to provide information on the CLCA.NET project and PSAB program with the goal of assisting aboriginal businesses to access contracting opportunities with all federal departments.

As you are aware, the Government of Canada contracting process can be complex. Officers responsible for contracting must take a number of variables into account to ensure that the contracting process is undertaken in a manner that reflects the Government of Canada Government Contracts Regulations and policies. What is not always evident are the other frameworks within which contracting should be conducted, such as the obligations contained in 21 of the 23 Comprehensive Land Claims Agreements (CLCAs) that Canada has concluded with First Nations signatories across the country.

INAC provides learning sessions to clarify contracting obligations and to assist federal departments and other interested parties as they navigate the contracting process where the final deliverable of goods, services or construction is in a CLCA area.

In this learning session, INAC senior advisors from Implementation Branch and the Community Economic Development Programs Directorate will discuss the Yukon Agreement Economic Development Measures chapter and the impact on the contracting process in addressing Canada's obligations in this CLCA area. Included in this session will be a discussion around the Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Business.

The Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Business (PSAB) while led by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) is a Government of Canada initiative. PSAB is designed to increase the number of Aboriginal suppliers bidding for, and winning, federal contracts. All federal government departments and agencies are encouraged to participate in this initiative.

Transferring Knowledge:
Percy Henry–Elder, Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in First Nation
Ed Schultz–Former CYFN Grand Chief
Beverly Sembsmoen–Carcross/Tagish First Nation
Kluane Adamek–AFN Yukon Youth Representative
Isaiah Gilson–AFN Yukon Youth Representative

A Round Table discussion featuring key members of the Yukon First Nation Umbrella Final Agreement negotiating team and youth focusing on the need to transfer knowledge of Agreements from one generation to the next. This is an opportunity to learn from the experiences of their elders and discuss the most effective methods for transferring knowledge.

Keynote Address:Tom Siddon–Former Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs, Canada

Building New Relationships:
Barry Stuart–Former Yukon Chief Judge, First Nation Advisor
Joanne Wilkinson–RDG, INAC Yukon Region
Catherine Constable–Former Director of the Land Claim and Implementation Secretariat, Yukon Government

An examination of the new relationship between the parties as a result of self–government and what is needed to ensure a strong working relationship is in place. What is the appropriate level for intergovernmental relationships with aboriginal governments in order to address difficult issues that arise from these new Agreements?

The Legal Impact of Self–Government:
Daryn Leas–Legal Council, CYFN
Jaimie Lickers–Associate, Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP
Lesley McCullough–ADM, Yukon Department of Justice
Philip Gibson–Senior Counsel, Justice Canada
What do the Agreements mean from a legal perspective, both internally to the Aboriginal government and externally? What are effective mechanisms for creating awareness of the change in the legal landscape: to the public, industry and within government. Can this change be more effectively managed in a way that avoids recourse to the courts in resolving issues surrounding the Agreements.

Managing the Transition to Self–Government:
Fran Asp–Champagne Aishihik First Nation
Viola Mullet–Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation
Hal Mehaffey–retired, First Nations Negotiator


An examination of how First Nation and Inuit governments dealt with the expectations of citizens regarding self–government. How the challenges and the broad range of new obligations were managed and in particular, the delivery of government services and programming to citizens/members.

Impact on Federal and Provincial/Territorial Governments:
Michael Hale–Yukon Territorial Government
Alain Grenier–Director, INAC

What has the recognition of self–government meant for the provinces/territories and Canada in terms of policy changes, challenges and systemic barriers? How can the parties work together more effectively to ensure that structural issues within Government do not impact the ability of the parties to resolve issues and move forward on self–government matters?

Aboriginal Public Government:
Joe Ohokannoak–Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated
Alastair Campbell–Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated
A look at the challenges and progress that has been made; where public government was created as part of the treaty process rather than stand alone self–government. What lessons can be learned and are there parallels with self–government.

Growing Revenue:
Justin Ferbey–Carcross/Tagish First Nation
Andy Gaule–CanNor
Yukon Department of Finance

How does Government policy impact First Nation and Inuit government's ability to access revenue streams and are these policies consistent with the goals of the Parties? How can the parties work together the facilitate the growth of First Nation and Inuit government revenue and increase the self–sufficiency of these governments?

Relationship with Industry:
James Eetoolook–A/President, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated
Jim Harper–Legal Council, Yukon First Nations
Yukon Department of Energy, Mines and Resources

What role does industry play in the ongoing success of self–government? How do First Nation and Inuit governments build effective relationships with industry to ensure long–term benefits and build their economies, but maintain their interests such as protecting habitat, etc?

Accessing Financing Solutions:
Dr. Tim Raybould–First Nation Finance Authority

What are the options for obtaining affordable, stable financing when dealing with large infrastructure projects or making other large investments in upgrading their ability to effectively provide programs and services to citizens/members.

Managing Expectations:
Stephen Gagnon–Director General, INAC
Leslie McCullough–ADM, Yukon Department of Justice
Mary Jane Jim–Cant–former Assembly of First Nations Yukon Regional Chief
Yukon First Nations

Each of the Parties has a different idea of what the agreements mean for their government, and different expectations of how the other governments should act in relation to the agreements. These are not always understood by the other parties and can lead to frustration. Are the expectations properly understood? How can the parties work together to deal with these expectations and find solutions where the expectations are inconsistent.

Self–government and Circumpolar Issues:
Cindy Dickson, Terry Fenge, Erika Rosenthal–Arctic Athabascan Council
Norma Kassi–Gwitch'in Steering Committee

Decisions made internationally are increasingly important in influencing the welfare and well–being of northern Indigenous peoples and the agenda of self–government. Self–government institutions will need to help First Nation citizens adapt to the impacts of climate change, and persuade others in North America and around the globe to reduce emissions of the global warming pollutants that cause climate change.

Closing Prayer: Elder Robert Lee Jackson–Teslin Tlingit Council