Vuntut Gwitchin Chief Pauline Frost with CYFN Grand Chief Peter Johnston in October 2024. Photo Courtesy of Macklen Linke/CKRW.
Whitehorse, YT – The Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation has rejoined the Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN) 16 years after leaving the organization over concerns about political interference.
On Wednesday, October 9th, Vuntut Gwitchin Chief Pauline Frost announced that the nation would be back at the CYFN table after the general assembly unanimously decided in August to rejoin as a full member with voting rights.
“Up to this point, we have essentially been observers. We voice our opinions and our thoughts at the table, but we were never presented with an opportunity to vote on resolutions.”
The nation previously decided to leave the CYFN in 2008 under former Chief Joe Linklater. Concerns were voiced over the CYFN seemingly attempting to assume more political influence in areas that Chief Linklater argued were the responsibility of the First Nation.
Chief Pauline Frost highlighted that the door was never closed to them and, regardless of past decisions, rejoining as a full member was widely embraced by the nation as an important step towards having a united voice.
“We’re not going to show up as one independent voice. That no longer works for us,” said Chief Frost. “Unity and having a collective voice is more powerful. It’s powerful in that we present one voice of Indigenous Yukoners.”
CYFN Grand Chief Peter Johnston thanked the past leaders of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation and his team for working towards this moment.
“Today is a great day for us as a council but it’s also a great day for Yukon First Nations and the territory in general.”
