Origin and Purpose — Yukon First Nations Climate Action Fellowship

Darcy McDiarmid Yukon First Nations Climate Action Fellowship Gathering Sign Feb 2020.png — In February 2020, the first-ever Yukon First Nations Climate Action Gathering was held at the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre in Whitehorse, Yukon.

gathering deliberation_with Em.jpeg — Over three days at the historic gathering, Yukon First Nations leaders, knowledge keepers, youth, community members and practitioners from across the Yukon, NWT and Northern BC reflected on our Ancestors’ teachings, and deliberated climate action through talking circles, collaborative art, presentations, song, and ceremony.

On the final day, representatives from Yukon First Nations signed a Climate Change Emergency Declaration, which included endorsement of the development of a Yukon First Nations Climate Vision and Action Plan.

Screenshot 2026-02-17 at 11.45.46.png — Yukon First Nations Leadership, for the first time, determined that a coordinated Yukon First Nations Climate Vision and Action Plan is required to support the Yukon region in advancing existing climate initiatives, creating new ones, and to ensure all communities have the resources required to build resiliency and learn from one another.

The call for a Yukon First Nations Climate Vision and Action Plan emerged from the understanding that a First Nations worldview and associated approaches are critical to responding to climate change and building a just and regenerative world.

YFN Youth Climate Declaration_signed.png — This historic Climate Action Gathering included a Youth and Elder Pre-Gathering called 'The Shared Heart' where Youth worked together to develop their own Youth Climate Declaration, Our Principles and Our Role in the Circle of Life, outlining their climate action priorities.

Upon the Youth presenting their vision, Yukon First Nations Leadership declared that a Yukon First Nations Climate Vision and Action Plan should be Youth-led as “it is their future at stake and they will inherit the decisions made now.”

YFN_Google Forms_Application size_cayenne and caps (1).jpeg — To deliver on Leadership’s direction, the Assembly of First Nations Yukon Region, the Council of Yukon First Nations, and Youth Climate Lab partnered to co-create the Yukon First Nations Climate Action Fellowship. Yukon University and RIVER have since come on as partners.

YFN Fellows collage.jpeg — With particular attention to Nation and language group diversity, gender balance, experience diversity, and energy balance, a diverse cohort of 14 young people from Yukon and transboundary BC First Nations were selected as Fellows.

moccasin caribou dakota.jpeg — The 20-month Fellowship aims to uphold youth as they connect with climate-related challenges as well as their culture and identity. Fellows are journeying together through online, in-person and on-the-land programming. In doing so, we are building upon emotional, spiritual, physical and intellectual skills to approach climate solutions as whole people.

salmon totem worldview.jpeg — Fellows will work alongside Yukon First Nations to co-create a Yukon First Nations Climate Vision and Action Plan for release in Spring 2022. The Vision and Action Plan can guide Yukon First Nations and other communities, governments and industry in responding to the challenges of climate change with spirit and actions that reflect a Yukon First Nations worldview.

Thank you for taking time to learn about our journey.

Gunalchéesh.

Gùnèłchīsh.

Mä̖hsi’ cho.

Màhsi’ choo.

Máhsin cho.

Meduh.

Shä̀wníthän.

Sógá sénlá'.

Tsin’jj choh.