Teamwork makes the dream work

It’s not all fun and games at YFNED - but sometimes it is!

In April, we got our staff out of the office for some team building and training sessions at YFNED's recent All-Staff meeting and SACRED (Staff Absorbing Culture Revitalizing Education Day).

Mahsi Cho to the YFNED staff for all you do -- we make an amazing team!

Culture Days at Elijah Smith Elementary

YFNED was pleased to support another successful Culture Week at Elijah Smith Elementary. Together with school staff and members of Kwanlin Dün First Nation, we helped organize a variety of cultural and on-the-land activities for students of all ages.

We were honoured to have Chief Sean Smith give an opening prayer/song and Elder Russell Burns led a trapping workshop. Culture Week has been happening for a long time at Elijah Smith Elementary, and YFNED looks forward to continuing to work with KDFN and department staff on this important school tradition for many years to come.

May 10th is Bear Witness Day

May 10th is Spirit Bear’s birthday and an important date in the history of Jordan’s Principle.

The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal’s first noncompliance order called for Canada to fully implement Jordan’s Principle by May 10, 2016. Sadly, it took several years and further non-compliance orders against Canada before any real progress was made.

Jordan’s Principle is a child-first principle and legal rule named in memory of Jordan River Anderson. It ensures First Nations children receive the services and supports they need when they need them.

Show your support and “Bear Witness” to Jordan’s Principle by bringing your bears to daycare, school or work on May 10th. Host a “Bear Party,” coffee break or lunch to learn more about Jordan’s Principle and to honour Jordan River Anderson.

Post your photos using the hashtags #BearWitnessDay and #JordansPrinciple. Learn more by reading the story of Spirit Bear.

Celebrate First Nations Grad with a canoe trip

First Nations grads of 2022 and 2023, join us after the ceremony for an overnight canoe trip on the Takhini River.

Contact Jona.Barr@yfned.ca (867-335-2882) or Ashwin.Freyne@yfned.ca (780-850-5281) to sign up or get more details.

No paddling experience necessary. Food and gear is provided.

May is Speech and Hearing Month

This month raises awareness about communication health. YFNED’s speech-language pathologists (SLPs) support communication health in many ways! We help learners strengthen their language, literacy and speech sounds. SLPs can also provide hearing screenings. Building communication skills could include playing in the snow, braiding hair or hanging out at the lake.

If you want to connect with our SLPs, go to yfned.ca or email: mtu@yfned.ca.

(Photos taken on the Traditional Territory of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation and White River First Nation.)

Early Years — May activities

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.

We will be closed from June 27-July 1 as we move from our location on Black Street to 420 Range Road.

Welcome babies!

FNSB Update

In early April, the First Nation School Board finalized their Transfer Payment Agreement with the Minister of Education, securing sustainable funds and allowing the FNSB start building their dream team. New, exciting job postings are coming out every week for both the FNSB staff jobs and for teaching/admin jobs at their 11 schools. Check out www.fnsb.ca/jobs and spread the word!

Welcome New Staff!

Katherine Scheck joined us on April 11 as a First Nation Education Advocate. Katherine loves the outdoors and is an avid paddler, orienteerer, cross country skier, skijorer, dog musher, biker, bikejorer, rock climber, and back country enthusiast. She looks forward to supporting youth programming in and out of the schools.

Morris Morrison joins us as the Trades Navigator. Morris started April 24 in the role after a number of years of progressive leadership with his home Nation, the Selkirk First Nation. He is an avid Montreal Canadiens fan, and will be working with industry and students to facilitate trades opportunities for school aged Indigenous youth.

Welcome back to our Junior Advocates from post secondary schools who will be supporting summer programming!

Leandrea Reeves
Piper Fordham
Cassidy Sturko
Jennifer Tuton
Lara Bode

UPCOMING EVENTS

May 9-11: First Nations Education Commission (Dawson City)

May 26: Early Years closes downtown location

May 27: YFNED Family Feast @ KDCC

June 2: First Nations Grad Ceremony @ KDCC

June 2: Early Years opens at new location