Yukon Government sign outside the Jim Smith Building in downtown Whitehorse. CKRW File Photo Courtesy of Macklen Linke.
Whitehorse, YT – The Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Government is suing the Yukon Government over decades-old mineral claims they say are blocking the First Nation from fully using its settlement land.
The lawsuit targets hundreds of “encumbering rights” which are claims and other legal burdens that existed before the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Final Agreement came into effect in 1998. Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in says many of these claims are inactive or no longer valid, but remain on the books because the government has failed to review or manage them as required under the agreement.
Hähkè Darren Taylor said the government’s inaction has caused years of lost opportunities and harm to the community.
“[Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in] has fulfilled our side of the deal that we reached under the Final Agreement, but YG must do the same,” said Chief Darren Taylor in a statement.
Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in filed a statement of claim in Yukon Supreme Court on Dec. 4 seeking damages.
A Yukon Government spokesperson says the case is under review and pledged that the government will work to strengthen its relationship with Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in.
