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Spring 2026 Newsletter

Post-Sec Grad: Registration Ends Today

Today is the last day to register for the Post-Sec Graduation Ceremony!!!! Register here ➡️ https://forms.gle/j16kq2rqvZhUFV9B7

The Indigenous Post-Secondary Graduation Ceremony will be held on May 22, 2026 at the KDCC!

For more info, email kim.rumley@yfned.ca

Happy Conference Memories!

The 2026 YFNED Conference, held February 26-27, is long over but what remains with us is an overwhelming feeling of joy and gratitude for all the beauty and knowledge felt and shared over these two days. Thank you to the 350+ participants (in-person and virtual), over 50 speakers, YFNED team, Gunta Business, Shakat Media, the KDCC, YAEP, Backcountry Catering, and everyone else who helped make these days so great.

SAVE THE DATE FOR NEXT YEAR’S CONFERENCE: April 13-15, 2027

I Like to Read Books Tour

The YFNED MTU's "I Like to Read Books" tour with local Tahltan artist and author Cole Pauls was a huge success! Over two weeks, we were in Ross River, Pelly Crossing, Carmacks, Whitehorse, Watson Lake, Teslin, and Kloo Lake Muskrat Camp with dozens and dozens of amazing kids!

This hands-on workshop explored comic creation, character design, and storytelling grounded in identity, culture, and connection to land.

April Feast

Kinder Connect

at Early Years

YFNED, FNSB and the Child Development Centre invite families with children starting Kindergarten this fall to join us for an evening of activities and helpful information. Meet and connect with our First Nation Education Advocates who support school-aged kids and discover ways to help your child start school with confidence.

Thursday, April 23 • 4:30 – 7 pm
Early Years Whitehorse • 101- 420 Range Road

If you have any questions, connect with your Visitor. If you don’t have a Visitor, please email earlyyears@yfned.ca.

Fish Netting on Łu Zil Män

Sunshine, ice, and lots of fish!!

We had three amazing days of fish netting on Łu Zil Män with 4 classes from Takhini Elementary. Pricilla Dawson, the school’s language teacher, organized the workshop with help from the First Nation School Board, so kids could learn Dän K'e (Southern Tutchone) language immersed in the land and culture — the best way! -- all on Kwanlin Dün First Nation land.

Thanks to Pricilla and the FNSB, Takhini Elementary is a school that is dedicated to getting children on the land.

YFNED supported with our Elders, and also provided equipment and food for the kids.

Staffing Updates

WELCOME NEW HIRES!

Blanchy Allas – Cook Helper

Alissa Anderson – Early Years Visitor (Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation)

Amilia Avril – Admin Assistant, Nutrition

Mark Bautista – Cook

Madilynn Bennett-Wondga – Admin Assistant (CAFN)

Nikhil Bhalla – Finance Clerk

Meagan Blake – Early Years Visitor in Carcross (VGFN)

Malinda Bruce – First Nation Education Advocate (VGFN), promoted from Admin by way of competition

Filipinas Cabalo – Cook Helper  

Joshua Castroverde – Cook Helper

Jenny Caesar – First Nation Wellness & Engagement Worker in Ross River (AOC) (Kaska)

Tenesha Christiansen – Early Years Visitor  (Trondek Hwechin)

Jenalyn Dela Cruz – Cook in Watson Lake (Scowlitz First Nation)

Kaidence Estrada – First Nation Education Advocate, promoted from Math Advocate by way of competition

Elson Joy – Cook

Shayna Kinney – Admin Assistant, Early Years (Saskatchewan Metis)

Monique Larocque-Michell – Cook Helper in Faro

Taylor Legge – Wellness & Allied Health Support Worker (Starts on April 27)  (Inuvialuit)

Vicky Lin Zheng — Junior Math Advocate in Watson Lake.

Megan McKenna – Early Years Visitor (AOC)  (Secwépemc)

Vanessa Oliverio – First Nation Wellness & Engagement Worker (Nak’azdli Whut’en}

Lisa Organ – Early Years Visitor (Nunamiut)

Lawrence Pascual – Cook Helper

Eric Porter – First Nation Education Advocate (Liard First Nation)

Carolina Ramos – Cook Helper

Courtney Sewell-Grant – Finance Clerk

Birdavinder Singh – Cook in Ross River

Kailey Smith – Program Assistant, Early Years (CTFN)

Kim Tessier – Cook in Faro

Deeron Vittrekwa – Math Advocate (Tetlit Gwichin)

Clarence Whitefish – Cook Helper in Ross River

Reuben Wurtak – Math Advocate (Tetlit Gwichin)

Check out yfned.ca/jobs for our current employment opportunities.

Job Openings!

The YFNED Nutrition team has 2 job openings!

1) Administrative Assistant to provide financial, purchasing, and administrative support to the team (Closing: April 22)

2) Cook/Cook Helper based in Watson Lake to support the National School Food Program pilot initiative at Johnson Elementary School. (Closing: April 20)

For more info and to apply, go to www.yfned.ca/jobs

Upcoming events


April 17 - Chiefs Committee on Education (CCOE) meets with Government of Yukon and First Nation School Board

April 28-29 - First Nation Education Commission (FNEC) meets in Dawson City on the Traditional Territory of Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in First Nation

May 20 - CCOE meets with Government of Yukon

April 18 - Family Feast @ KDCC

May 2 - Family Feast @ KDCC

May 22 - Post-Secondary Graduation Ceremony @ KDCC

June 12 - First Nations Grad @ KDCC

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