Grand chief candidate assesses the issues

For 10 years, Brenda Jackson has worked for the Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN) in nearly every capacity - first as a youth court worker, then an adult court worker, justice manager, policy analyst and now human resource development manager.

For 10 years, Brenda Jackson has worked for the Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN) in nearly every capacity - first as a youth court worker, then an adult court worker, justice manager, policy analyst and now human resource development manager.

At the CYFN’s annual general assembly at Lake Laberge June 24-26, Jackson will challenge incumbent Grand Chief Andy Carvill and Victoria Fred, a Kwanlin Dun First Nation lawyer, for the council’s top spot.

This week, the Star sat down with Jackson, a First Nation of Nacho Nyak Dun member, to talk about her political ambitions and what she brings to the table.

Brenda Jackson on why she’s running for grand chief:

I’m running for grand chief because I have the aspiration to someday be chief of (the First Nation of Nacho Nyak Dun), and to help me be able to obtain that goal, I need to be able to expose myself to politics to gather and gain (the necessary) experience.

On Carvill’s leadership of the CYFN:

I think CYFN is a fantastic central organization and I think working together will bring us into a bright solid future for first nations people. I can’t say that I could do a better job than Andy (Carvill). He’s been in the position for three years and he’s done a lot in those three years.

On the effectiveness, relevance and necessity of the CYFN:

I believe that having a central organization is a necessity for the future of our first nations people because there’s a lot of commonalities amongst us.

Many of our first nations are self-governing and there are some that are not. Even though we are all diverse, unique and different in a lot of aspects, we still have a lot of common issues,  and I think a central organization could help unify the first nations on those common issues.

On the impacts of residential school common experience payments in the Yukon:

From talking to community members, there could be the linkage where a number of people, when they got their money, increased their abuse of alcohol or drugs, which has either caused illness or death.

But talking with other citizens, they’ve used that money they’ve received for the betterment of their immediate or extended families - they’ve paid off debts, went and bought vehicles or snowmobiles to help on the trapline, they’ve invested, they’ve set up trust funds for their grandchildren.

But I think what Canada really needs to pay attention to in regards to this is not only payment and an apology for what (residential school) has done but actually setting up of treatment and healing programs for people.

Receiving an apology and receiving a payment are different from starting on that healing path.

On how the CYFN and the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) can work together:

They have a working relationship where if something is happening on the regional level and they need the national voice, CYFN will work closely with AFN and vice-versa, if something’s happening in the Yukon, AFN will know to contact and work with the council. It depends on the issues, effects and the initiatives.

On specific issues facing first nations people that are most pressing:

Like I said, healing. We need to start down that healing path now (through) the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for the survivors and family members.

We also need to take a look at our environment. It’s being affected drastically by climate change.

Also, our heritage, our traditions and our culture ... on harvesting, on language, values and beliefs. Those are all very important. And obviously the land is very important.

Education, corrections, child welfare - there are a number of issues affecting first nations people and there’s always room for improvement.

On acrimony between the CYFN and Yukon government over recent amendments to the Child and Family Services Act:

I didn’t have any direct involvement in that situation. But what I can say is that I’ve had a direct working relationship with the Yukon government in regards to the (proposed) corrections (act amendments) consultation process.

So based on what the Yukon government has gone through with the Children and Family Services Act review and consultation process has ultimately had an effect on how they do business and how they do work on their consultation process.

And I do believe that the government is going to be extending the tabling of the corrections act from this fall to the spring in order to go back to the communities to do a follow-up process. So I think that’s a good thing and maybe (the government) might have learned from the first process and won’t fast-track it.

On improving the consultation process:

I’ve worked for the CYFN for 10 years and I’ve been one of the front line workers, so I’ve kind of been involved in politics, one of the technical people in the background doing briefing notes and so on and so forth but I haven’t really been one of the spokespeople.

With that, I wouldn’t really know how to improve the consultation process because I’m not really privy to that (information), but that said, I’m a fast learner.

I’m sure that if I find out what the protocol and processes are that, depending on what the first nations tell me, I’d be able to work on improving it.

On balancing development with environmental protection:

It’s a fine balance. We want economic development. We want the benefits that mining and pipelines and other opportunities bring to the territory.

But at the same time, we don’t want to deteriorate our land for those benefits. So there has to be a balance as we build ourselves up economically but at the same time being mindful of our land, our traditional pursuits and our future generations, what we’re going to leave for them.

A profile of Victoria Fred was published earlier this month. Grand Chief Carvill has not been available for an interview.