Thursday was a historic day for the Yukon, as it became the first jurisdiction in Canada to unveil a strategy to deal with the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and Two-spirit+ crisis.

The Yukon Advisory Committee (YAC), the group responsible for the report, spent the morning celebrating the strategy, from the lighting of a sacred fire in Whitehorse to a celebratory signing that involved nearly every community leader in the territory, along with federal officials.

It was only fitting the Yukon was the first spot in Canada to act on the recommendations of the national panel, since it hosted the first sittings of the inquiry.

The YAC is a collaborative organization that includes government representatives from various levels, as well as community representation.

The YAC was created in the spring of 2015 to guide and support the first Yukon Regional Roundtable on MMIWG2S+ and to connect the work of the National Inquiry in Yukon to families of MMIWG2S+, and Indigenous survivors, experts, and communities, according to a background report.

The YAC is co-chaired by Jeanie McLean, the minister responsible for the Women’s Directorate and representing the territorial government; Chief Doris Bill of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation representing Yukon First Nations; and Ann Maje Raider, the executive director of the Liard Aboriginal Women’s Society, representing Indigenous women’s organizations.

It also includes representatives from all three Yukon Indigenous women’s organizations, family members and survivors, LGBTQ2S+ community, and ex-officio representatives from the RCMP and Government of Canada.

It’s not a government group, Bill said.

“The government should not lead all actions. We will develop plan with partners, and there is much work ahead. Alone, the burden would feel heavy. But if we each carry something, it will feel lighter.

“All of the advocates, family members, and survivors that have fought so hard for so long should see today as an important step forward in restoring dignity and justice for Indigenous women, girls and Two-spirit+ people,” Bill added.

“Thank you for your guidance and your strength over the years – nothing about this work has been easy, but your tireless work and commitment is the reason we are here today.”

In the report, the YAC identified four paths to guide the process: Strengthening Connections and Supports; Community Safety and Justice; Economic Independence and Education; Community Action and Accountability.

The heart of the strategy – which is as much a vision statement as a practical plan – includes “31 priority actions under the four paths and takes a Yukon approach, encouraging all Yukoners to see themselves as part of the solution,” the report states.

“Today is a historic day, I am so proud of this strategy and of the work that got it to this day,” said McLean.

“It is a starting place, and we still have much work to do, but the family members, advocates, leaders and members of the Yukon Advisory Committee should take a moment to reflect on this incredible accomplishment.”

McLean and Bill stressed the strategy is a long-term process meant to be implemented over a 10-15 year period in stages.

They both insisted, though, that it is very much a document geared to practicality, even if it is visionary.

“It’s up to each community to look at the strategy,” Bill said. “It’s a guide. Communities can adopt parts of it or all of it. It can’t just be up to the women’s groups. We need everyone committed.

“We’re going to hold community leaders accountable.”

McLean added “we want to change the reality in our communities. There’s a tremendous amount of grief. We need to come together in healing and unity to share in this incredible accomplishment.

“I don’t think any of it is unrealistic. It’s absolutely realistic. There’s a role for everyone. It was an honour and an inspiration to watch signatories from across all four levels of government – First Nation, federal, territorial and municipal – come together today to make a commitment to end violence against Indigenous women, girls and Two-spirit+ people. I am confident that moving forward together, we can make a real difference.”

She said the Yukon is the first jurisdiction to issue a formal plan to tackle the recommendations.

“It will serve as a guide for the rest of the country,” McLean said. “We are committed to the implementation principles.

“Getting to this point has been hard work. We’ve all been part of a journey to get here. We’ve had a lot of disagreements, but our passion kept us moving forward.”

Said Bill: “I want to acknowledge the families that are grieving today and my community. This marks an historic day. It marks a milestone for the Yukon. I am so proud and honoured. This really is an achievement. We all want Indigenous women and girls to to feel respect, dignity and justice.”

Raider said, “We are going to reclaim our dignity. We are going to give our sisters a voice. Those voices still resonate in my heart. Let us hold them in our hearts.

“There are promising practices to be built on. Let us look for community-based solutions. This is about Indigenous women having equality.”

Premier Sandy Silver commented as well.

“This is a profound day,” he said. “It’s an incredible milestone for our government and all Yukoners. This crisis has gone on far too long.”

Federal officials also weighed in with congratulations. Carolyn Bennett, the minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, spoke glowingly on the strategy.

“It’s a truly national response with concrete actions. It’s an effective and accountable strategy, and an effective and accountable plan forward to end this national tragedy.

“It’s a tremendous example, and a vision statement that needs to be echoed everywhere in Canada.”

McLean said arrangements will need to be made for how some of the action items will be funded, and for benchmarks to be established to track the progress of the strategy.

Community safety will be one of high-priority items, she added.

“It’s a unique process.”

Raider had a more practical take on the matter.

“A decrease in violence against Indigenous women will be a clear benchmark,” she said.

“This is not a Yukon government strategy. It belongs to everyone who’s concerned about this issue.”

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