Grand Chief assesses commanding mandate

Former Ta’an Kwach’an Council leader Ruth Massie took her oath of office for Grand Chief of the Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN)

BROOKS BROOK – Former Ta’an Kwach’an Council leader Ruth Massie took her oath of office for Grand Chief of the Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN) Wednesday after receiving support from an overwhelming number of voting delegates at the council’s annual general assembly here, outside of Teslin.

“We’ll just continue looking forward to the future, and I will call on everyone for encouragement and support when I need it,” said Massie, who the day before belittled the Yukon Forum – an annual gabfest between the council and the territorial and federal government – as a “tea party” and “photo op”.

Of 51 delegates, 38 elected to stick with Massie, who has been interim chief of the CYFN since Andy Carvill resigned in March, instead of opting for challenger Joe Jack.

Under Massie, the council will aim to reinvent itself as a powerful lobby and source of expertise for the Yukon’s fledgling First Nations in various stages of political development.

Jack had proposed transforming the CYFN into a central government.

The former Kwanlin Dun First nation chief had also touted establishing an aboriginal police force in the territory; two provoking ideas that gained little traction at the assembly, evidenced by the 13 votes Jack received.

During the question and answer session following Tuesday’s speeches to delegates by Jack and Massie, Massie accused the Yukon government of playing up partnerships between itself and First Nations here in order to obtain funding from Ottawa that should go directly to aboriginal governments.

Homeless aboriginal youth, particularly in Whitehorse, aboriginal children in the custody of social services staff and the long-term care of elders also loomed large at the assembly, as well as the necessary resources to tackle the challenges.

Asked whether Massie was talking about new money from Ottawa to address these problems, or if she could put a dollar figure on the Yukon government’s revenue that could be redirected to First Nations, Massie was vague.

“It would be new money for us,” she told the Star, adding that there were several areas the CYFN could collaborate on with the public government.

Capacity is also an issue, she said.

Self-government agreements for 11 of the Yukon’s 14 First Nations with settled claims allow for each aboriginal government to take over health and social services, education, guardianship, custody and care of children and training programs for their membership – each still largely administered by the Yukon and federal governments.

If and when the First Nations of White River, Ross River and Liard River (the three who opted out of 1993’s Umbrella Final Agreement) ink their deals, the same lawmaking provisions would, in all probability, be extended, which theoretically could result in a myriad of individual First Nations’ ministries dotting the landscape.

As several of the First Nations’ membership number fewer than 400, it is not surprising that the Yukon’s aboriginal governments are strained for lack of capacity as they attempt to implement their self-government deals.

“We’re not talking about 14 education departments or 14 social services departments,” Massie said of the reality facing the territory’s aboriginal governments. “There are many areas in which the Yukon’s First Nations could work together ... 10 heads are better than one.”

Jack had argued that by transforming the CYFN into a central governing authority for the Yukon’s aboriginal people, together they could have more influence with Ottawa and the territorial government, and be better positioned to implement the spirit of their individual self-government agreements.

Conversely, Massie believes unity at the council is crucial, but that the Yukon’s First Nations have too much on their respective plates to formulate an overarching governing body – an idea that several delegates at the assembly feared would strip power and authority from their respective governments.

Another problem with elevating the CYFN to the role of a central aboriginal government is that several member First Nations reside outside the Yukon’s boundaries, while others have left the council altogether.

As the CYFN currently stands, it is hardly representative of all the Yukon’s aboriginal people.

The most recent First Nation to vacate its seat at the CYFN is the Vuntut Gwitchin, who left in 2008. The Kwanlin Dun opted out of the CYFN in the 1990s, as did the Ross River First Nation and Liard First Nation.

In her acceptance speech, Massie said she would endeavour to attract these First Nations back to the fold.

Meanwhile, the Gwichya Gwich’in Council, Nihtat Gwich’in Council and Tetlit Gwich’in Council are CYFN member First Nations based in the Northwest Territories.