YFNED Newsletter - November 2023

November 2023

It’s winter… hamper season!

Have you signed up for your winter hamper? It’s for ALL families with Indigenous kids aged 0-18 in the Whitehorse area. Go to yfned.ca/winterhampers to sign up for available dates and times.

At Shipyards Park from 11am to 6pm:

Thursday, December 7
Friday, December 8
Friday, December 15
Saturday, December 16

If you are in a community, please contact your First Nation about delivery there.

We want to find out more about the role food plays in the lives of Indigenous people in the Yukon. And as a provider of nutrition programs in schools and communities, we want to ensure we are delivering programming that aligns with your values.

Fill out the survey or find out more at yfned.ca/nutrition.

We will be coming to communities for meetings in the new year. Please email Nutrition@yfned.ca if you would like to host a session in your community.

Open House in two weeks!

Happenings at Early Years

All Indigenous families, whether registered with our program or not, are welcome to attend our drop-ins. There will be snacks, activities, beading and knitting supplies, and a chance to see our space and meet the Early Years team.

If you have any questions about the monthly activities, email EarlyYears@yfned.ca, call 867-667-6962 ext. 123 or check out www.yfned.ca/EarlyYears.

And remember, we have moved to 420 Range Road!

In the month of November, the Old Crow Early Years program has been working on a community project to honour all the children who never came home. Over the years, there are many ways we have lost children - from residential schools to the 60’s scoop, or even infant and pregnancy loss. This project is being led by Jeneen Frei Njootli and meant to make something beautiful from our grief.

As we started the project an Elder in the community told us how long ago at Rampart House when a child was lost the women would come together and sew a flower like this and put the child’s name on it and they would hang all these flowers on the wall together. This project will create a giant baby strap of orange flowers to wrap around all the life-givers in our community.

Some of the flowers they are working on are provided in the picture.

To better serve our students

Our First Nation Education Advocate team spent three days of strategic planning on the land at Tagish Lake, on Carcross/Tagish First Nation Traditional Territory. Together we were learning, sharing, connecting and caring on the land with Elders and youth. By strengthening our team, we can better serve our students.

Save the date for the 5th Annual First Nation Education Conference!

We’re starting to look for presenters and breakout sessions. Email Adrianna.Wondga@yfned.ca if you’re interested.

The theme this year is “Mentorship through an Indigenous lens”.

YFNED is looking to recruit youth from each First Nation to bring back our Moccasin Trailblazers!

This is a dynamic group of youth striving to bring their concerns about the education system to light. Our goal is to meet every four months to spend a day on the land and a day of discussions. How can we work with schools, parents, systems and the government to promote success, health and satisfaction in every classroom? Together we will figure out what works and what is needed for a safe and happy environment.

If you know a youth (15-30 years old) that would like to be heard and start making a difference, please have them contact Adrianna Wondga (adrianna.wondga@yfned.ca).

Welcome new staff!

Jason Jim joined the First Nation Education Advocate Team on November 1, making the move from our Nutrition program over to FNEA. Jason is a CAFN citizen.

Adam Thompson has joined the MTU as the new Clinical Counsellor, Adam started on November 20.

Mark Smith joined the Education Team as the Education Ecosystem Project Coordinator, Mark came to us from KDFN. His first day was November 27.

Patrick Agana joined the MTU team as an On-Call Community Therapy Assistant in Watson Lake on October 11.

Vanessa Chaput will be joining Early Years as the new Early Years Visitor in Watson Lake. She is an LFN citizen.

We are always looking for talented future staff. Check out yfned.ca/jobs for all the details and to apply.

Upcoming events

December 5: Movie night at the Beringia Centre with Dashaw K’e

December 7, 8, 15, 16: Hamper pickup at Shipyards Park

December 15: YFNED open house

December 21 - January 7: YFNED offices closed

January 27: Family Feast at KDCC

March 20-21: 5th Annual Education Conference

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