NEWS RELEASE: New Report Emphasizes Yukon First Nations Experiences Under Civil Emergency Measures Act

WHITEHORSE – The Council of Yukon First Nations announced the release of a final report that examines the interjurisdictional dynamics amongst Yukon First Nations and non-Indigenous governments during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The research study was commissioned by the Council of Yukon First Nations on behalf of Yukon First Nations. During the 2020 Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN) General Assembly, Yukon First Nation Leadership emphasized the need to understand Yukon First Nations experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic and to incorporate them in the Yukon government’s planned review of the Civil Emergency Measures Act (CEMA).

The COVID-19 pandemic brought numerous challenges to the Yukon, including a prolonged state of emergency that challenged the shared governance system in the territory. The final report highlighted 8 key findings and identified 25 recommendations based on the reflections and experiences of those involved in the pandemic response. Although some aspects of these experiences were unique to COVID-19, overarching lessons learned can inform future legislative review, policy, and practice in Yukon emergency planning and management.

Throughout the pandemic, CYFN’s Yukon First Nations COVID Response Team listened to communities and built community-based solutions to solve problems. CYFN is proud to support and participate in this type of collaborative research that looks to build more robust systems through identifying gaps and determining how we can work together to address the needs of Yukoners.

– CYFN Grand Chief Peter Johnston

Quick Facts:

  • This 2-year research project was conducted with funding support from the Government of Yukon’s COVID-19 Research Recovery Fund.
  • The project was hosted and administered by CYFN, through One Yukon Coalition, who worked with a team of Yukon-based facilitators, and community-based and Yukon University researchers to design and implement the project.

You can view the report at oneyukon.ca/2023/06/cema-report/

For further information contact:
Roni-Sue Sparvier
Communications Advisor, Council of Yukon First Nations
P: 867.393.9200 ext. 9223
cyfn.ca | communications@nullcyfn.net