YFNED staff gathered at the Healing Totem on the wharf on Thursday to honour the healing of residential school survivors and their families.

We hope you were able to attend National Day of Truth and Reconciliation events across the territory, but more importantly that we are all working towards reconciliation every day.

A big day for FNSB and St. Elias School

On September 20th, we shared an incredible day with the people of Dakwäkäda/Haines Junction in celebration of the First Nation School Board assuming authority of their school. This huge and heart-warming ceremony was organized by Champagne and Aishihik First Nations, St. Elias Community School. Such an important moment as the First Nation School Board ushers in a new era of education for the community.

Watch a short clip from the ceremony.

In other FNSB news, the Yukon School Board Trustee election will take place this fall. Polling places will be open across the territory. Five FNSB trustee positions are open.

Nominations will be open from Monday, October 17 to noon on Thursday, October 27, 2022. Polling day will be Monday, November 7, 2022.

Please read this media advisory from Elections Yukon for more details.

For more information about the First Nation School Board, follow FNSB on Facebook, Instagram or check out their new website at www.fnsb.ca.

Education Advocates back to school after a busy summer

Three generations of CAFN citizens harvested a caribou in August. It was part of a YFNED land-based learning workshop led by Elder Harry Smith.

YFNED went all the way to Toronto for the AFN Education Symposium. It was led by Russell Burns and Howard Macintosh and supported by YFNED Junior Advocates.

This summer we also established Ama Ku or “Mother’s Place”, our newest YFNED land-based campus.

That’s Brayden Gleason drumming, and Trondek Junior Brooklyn Mason demonstrating traditional fish cutting classes to students at Ama Ku - led by Tahltan Elder Andy Carlick.

As the school year gets underway, we continue to look forward to working with students in the classroom and on the land.

MTU is out and about

The Mobile Therapeutic Unit (MTU) has been doing a lot of travel to the communities with a variety of Wellness Program activities supporting families and students.

From Old Crow to Watson Lake and many places in between, we’ve been working with children and families where they are.

We attended White River First Nation’s moose hunting and fish netting culture camp last week. What an honour and privilege to share and learn from their Elders.

Last week, we partnered with the Early Years program and the Child Development Centre to raise awareness and provide education about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

We will continue to share our photos from around the territory over on Instagram.

One year of Early Years!

Join us in celebrating the one year anniversary of our Early Years program! We will have brunch, with activities for children (aged 0-5) and their parents/caregivers.

Date: October 29th
Time: 10:30am to 2:00pm
Location: Àłääshēdäl, 305 Strickland St, Whitehorse

There will also be door prizes! 🎉

Early Years — October activities

Get ready for winter hampers

We are already getting the Winter Hampers ready for December. Follow our Facebook page where we will post the sign-up page in November.

We will also have information at www.yfned.ca/winterhampers.

Welcome New Staff!

Robyn Stauffer - Early Year Visitor in Mayo. Robyn has a licensed practical nursing background. We are happy to have her join our Early Years team to support families in Mayo.

Twyla Amos - An Early Year Visitor in Whitehorse is from Inuvik.

Breanna Bingham - A Vuntut Gwitchin member supporting our Early Years program in Old Crow as a part time Program Assistant.

Patty Wallingham - Joined us in August as a FN Wellness & Support Worker with our Mobile Therapeutic Team. Patty is a member of the First Nation of Nacho Nyak Dun.

Kelsey Kerr - Speech Language Pathologist joined the MTU in August as well. Kelsey is a member of the Heiltsuk First Nation and an active committee member for the Yukon Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology association, and Pan-Canadian Alliance of Speech-Language Pathologists & Audiologists.

Chùndayma/Krista Reid - Our Director of Indigenous Education and Advocacy has joined our team. Krista is matrilineal descendant of the Haudenosaunee people and has family connections to the Heiltsuk and Champagne and Aishihik First Nations. Chùndayma has worked in senior leadership roles to ensure the ways of Indigenous knowledge and stories are transferred and reconnected to our people, through the development and administration of cultural and language revitalization programming.

Malinda Bruce - member of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation recently joined our team to provide reception and administrative support for YFNED.

Mei Ramos joins YFNED as a Cook supporting urban schools October 3.

Shannon Walker - member of the Kluane First Nation who is supporting our nutrition unit as a Rural Nutrition Coordinator.

Yvonne Ollie (Kaska) is working this year as a part time cook in Ross River School.

Welcome back to Earon Ollie and Chelsea Etzel who have returned for another year to support the nutrition programming in Ross River school!

UPCOMING EVENTS

October 17: Nominations open for FNSB trustee elections

October 27: Nominations close for FNSB trustee elections

November 5-7: FNSB trustee elections

December: Winter Hampers