Celebrations for a defining policy paper that helped paved the way for the negotiation of the Yukon Final and Self-Government Agreements kicked off in Whitehorse with a visit from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Trudeau, who was joined by Indigenous Services Minister Paddy Hadju, visited Whitehorse for the 50th-anniversary celebrations of Together Today for our Children Tomorrow: A Statement of Grievances and an Approach to Settlement by the Yukon Indian People.
Trudeau made an appearance at a hand games tournament held at the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre, stopping to take photos and chat with people in the crowd.
“It was wonderful and important for me to be able to come here to the Yukon tonight, and somewhat fitting, because 50 years ago, you came to visit my father in Ottawa,” he said.
The trailblazing document, which was put forward by the Yukon Native Brotherhood (YNB) in consultation with community members and elders, has a long-lasting legacy in Yukon.
Together Today highlighted the frustrations of First Nations people in the territory during the ‘60s and early ‘70s, including the hardships they faced due to issues like racism, social and economic inequality and subpar education.
“In 1973 the picture of the Yukon Indians is not a pretty one. The Yukon Indian people are not a happy people,” the document said.
Together Today also explored the future First Nations leaders in Yukon wanted for their people. YNB proposed negotiating a settlement with the federal government on behalf of chiefs in the territory.
First Nations leaders hoped the programs and guarantees allocated in a settlement would protect the next generations “from a repeat of today’s problems in the future.”
“This is a Settlement for tomorrow, not today,” it states. “This Settlement is for our children, and our children’s children, for many generations to come.”
“If we are successful, the day will come when ALL Yukoners, will be proud of our Heritage and Culture, and will respect our Indian identity. Only then will we be equal Canadian Brothers.”
On Feb. 14, 1973, a delegation of First Nations leaders in Yukon presented Together Today to Trudeau’s father, former prime minister Pierre Trudeau. It was the first time that a group of Indigenous people had ever prepared and presented a document of its nature.
The delegation was able to convince the federal government to begin a negotiation process for a modern-day treaty, the first of its kind to take place in Canada.
Trudeau told reporters on Monday the document’s legacy is significant.
“(Not only was it) visionary back then, but continues to read as a visionary document right now,” he said.
“You really see the depth to which Indigenous leadership across the country, the First Nations here in Yukon, see clearly about what the path to reconciliation is.”
The Together Today document later laid the foundation for the negotiation of the Yukon Final and Self-Government Agreements. In the early 1990s, First Nations in Yukon signed the Umbrella Final Land Claim Agreement, ushering in an era of modern-day treaties for Yukon and across Canada.
The territory is now considered a leader in land claims negotiations. Eleven of fourteen First Nations in the territory have settled land claims and are self-governing.
Fifty years after his father accepted the document, Trudeau said being in Whitehorse to celebrate its 50th anniversary was a testament to its work of advancing reconciliation.
“For (First Nations chiefs) to have come and seen my father 50 years ago, for me to now go and come here to meet them and celebrate, it’s an important thing to be able to highlight the important work that’s continuing,” he said.
Week-long celebration
The anniversary also hits home for former Champagne and Aishihik First Nations chief Steve Smith.
Smith’s father, Elijah Smith, was a founding leader of the Yukon Native Brotherhood and what is now CYFN. Elijah was responsible for heading the delegation to Ottawa and is often touted as a visionary for his leadership.
Smith said his father, a pragmatic man who was a straight forward speaker, “probably would’ve had some opinions of how we could do things better,” but would overall be pleased with the documents’ positive outcomes.
“I think he would be impressed with that and glad to see our people still getting together and still celebrating who we are,” he said.
Smith, who met with Trudeau during the celebration on Sunday, noted it was interesting to speak with him almost 50 years to the day their fathers met to discuss Together Today.
“(It’s interesting) to see where our paths have kind of intersected almost at the same point that his father and my father did as well,” he said.
Smith said ultimately Together Today started a journey for First Nations people in Yukon and that many recommendations made 50 years ago have come to fruitarian today.
“We were a people who were marginalized by general society and today when we look at it, people have to recognize the fact that First Nations, Aboriginal people or Indigenous people across the whole country actually have a say in their life journey,” he said.
“I think it’s just a testament to how (past leaders) brought together the words to write down into this Together Today document.”
The Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN) is holding a week-long celebration of activities at the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre in honor of the anniversary.
The week-long event will also include guest speakers, an artist market, a First Nations trade show and language activities.
Visitors can also view an archival collection where they can get a glimpse of the original Together Today document.
The celebration will wrap up on Saturday at the Canada Games Centre in Whitehorse with a family fun day.
