OUR PAST OUR CHILDREN OUR FUTURE White River First Nation update FALL2015 A Word From the Executive Director Hello to all, Staffing update: The Referrals Clerk position has not been filled and remains open. This is an entry level position in the Natural Resources Department, also known as the YESAA Department. If you are interested in this half-time position, please contact the White River First Nation Administration Office. The Home and Community Care position also remains vacant. This is a halftime position under the White River First Nation Health Department. If you are interested in this position, please WRFN Youth Council contact the White River First Nation Administration Office. Department update: Council is looking into starting the Elders Council once again. This will be discussed further in the near future and an update will be submitted into the a future newsletter. The General Assembly has appointed Christine Sam as the Alternate Councillor for the Northern Tutchone. Congratulations. The Leadership Training scheduled for Council was postponed. New dates have not been set yet. Council would like to put a call-out for anyone interested in a contract position of Proposal Writer. For further details, please contact the White River First Nation Administration Office. Just a few highlights from your Administration Department. Any questions or comments, please do contact the office. Thank you, Sid C. Vander Meer Executive Director executivedirector@wh iteriverfirstnation.com Inside this issue: Executive Director 1 Youth Council 1 Lands Dept. 2 Health Department 3 Capital & CELC 4 Education 5-6 Kidz Fun Zone 7-9 Calling all White River First Nation youth (14-30 years of age) WRFN's very first Youth Council is being created! Please contact Teresa Vander Meer-Chasse and provide her with your contact information to be put on the registry of Youth Council members. No one under or over the age limit will be included in Youth Council registry. For more information please contact Teresa. Supporting and Advocating for White River s Youth since 2015. Teresa Vander Meer-Chasse WRFNYC tsvc@live.ca She can also be contacted via Facebook
Page 2 Land s Department WRFN Reconciliation Agreement Process with Yukon Government It is very important to WRFN Technical Team that members are kept well informed, and are able to participate in this important process. To meet this objective of good communication with members, WRFN held information sessions with members in Whitehorse and Beaver Creek on July 21, 2015. At the General Assembly in Beaver Creek in August 2015, the WRFN technical team presented the GA, and hosted an information booth all throughout the day to speak to members one on one about any concerns or suggestions that they may have. At the GA there was broad support expressed for this process by the members. Members expressed concerns that there should be no extinguishment of aboriginal title as part of the process. It has been over 20 years since WRFN members rejected the Umbrella Final Agreement (UFA) land claim settlement offer from Canada and Yukon. WRFN members made it clear then that they did not support the land quantum offered, nor did they support surrendering their aboriginal title to the land. While that position was taken firmly by our people, the struggle to protect the land and have a say on what happens to the land, continues for WRFN. The question remains "what does WRFN do to have more say on the land and also to share in the benefits of developments without signing a land claim settlement?" The answer may be a "Reconciliation Agreement" with Yukon. Its objective would be to ensure that WRFN gets more say over their lands and participate in the benefits of development, without having to enter into a permanent agreement with Government that surrender aboriginal title. In BC, these types of negotiations are becoming the norm as most Nations without land claims are reluctant to extinguish their aboriginal title. A "Reconciliation Agreement" would allow WRFN and other Governments to do business together in a thoughtful and less confrontational manner. WRFN can participate more effectively in decisions about the land. It is also a way that WRFN can ensure that on matters like resource royalty sharing we will no longer be shut out because we took a stand refusing to sign their land claim offer. Progress to date: * Several meetings have been held with Yukon Government officials and the WRFN team. * WRFN has provided some suggestions to Yukon on: - suggested consultation approaches to help us protect the land and have a proper say - economic considerations for WRFN - revenue sharing for resource development - special areas for land management that are very important to WRFN We will continue to update members as this progresses. Thank You, Janet Vander Meer at 867 633 2944 or jlv@polarcom.com Our past, Our children, Our future
Page 3 Health Department Con tact us!!! Wellness Update Well members, we ve been having our Inter- Agency meetings every month. The next one is scheduled for October 20, 2015 at the Wellness Centre, at 3:30 p.m. Mark Nassiopoulas, Alcohol and Drug Counselor, comes twice a month. His next visit is October 8, & 9, 2015 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. If anyone want an appointment with him, can call me and meet him at the Wellness Centre or can call Sandra Frost at the Beaver Creek Nursing Station, to meet with him. Bloodties 4 Directions, Samantha Hand will be here to do a workshop on Healthy Communications, October 22, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. Dinner will be served. The week of the October 19, 2015 Flu shots will be given, starting at the White River First Nation office with a lunch. Social Assistance for the next two months will be October 6, & 7, 2015 and November 3, & 4, 2015 I would like to start up Talking Circle again in November. Please feel free to contact me Jackie Johnny 1-867-862-7623 jackie.johnny@whitriv erfirstnation.com White River First Nation Box 2 Beaver Creek, Yukon Territory Y0B 1A0 Administration Phone: 1-867-862-7802 Toll Free: 1-866-862-9736 Administration Fax: 1-867-862-7806 Education & Training: 1-867-862-7051 Wellness Centre: 1-867-862-7623 CHR Update In the last two months we have had quite a few culture camps. Two were fish camps. One we held at Border Lake. For this one we built a new fish frame and caught about 20 fish. The other fish camp was held at Pickhandle Lake and Longs Creek. During this camp we caught 40 whitefish and two salmon! This is unheard of! I had very good workers during these camps and am proud of them. We also enjoyed a culture camp at Snag and were blessed with the presence of the students from Nelnah Bessie John School. Everyone enjoyed their time. As I am working part time only there will be less culture camps in the coming seasons. Thank you, Marilyn Sanford marilynsanford7@outlook.com
Page 4 Capital Hello to the Membership, Just a quick update from the Capital Department. Work on an elder s addition has begun. Also the retrofit on unit 13 will begin shortly. As with the bathroom remodel of unit 7. Sometime in the middle of November Tetra Tech, accompany contracted through AANDC, will be holding a community meeting in Beaver Creek with location to be announced at a later date. They will be giving an update and discuss environmental issues for citizens of Beaver Creek. There will also be snacks and prizes. A notice will be posted at the Administration Building fro the exact date and time. Thank you, Doug Broerem, Capital Projects capital@whiteriverfirstnation.com C.E.L.C Dear WRFN Members, For many years members have been receiving funding for their children s school supplies and graduation support. WRFN does receive funding from Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC) for these school supplies/graduation support. One of the eligible requirements according to AANDC s guidelines is that parents/child reside in Beaver Creek, Yukon to receive this funding. WRFN does have to follow AANDC s guidelines, as of October 1, 2015. WRFN will not be approving any further school supplies/graduation support unless you reside in Beaver Creek, Yukon. AANDC also mentioned that parents can go to the First Nation that they live on or near to request for this funding through them. Here is a link to AANDC s guideline: http://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1100100033601/1100100033605 We are very sorry for the inconvenience! Bessie Chasse ; wrfn.celc@outlook.com
Page 5 Education and Training As the Employment and Training Officer for White River First Nation. I was nominated and selected by the Yukon College for the President s Award for Partnership in Education award. On August 27th at the Yukon College Fall Huddle Luncheon, I was presented, by Karen Barnes the President of Yukon College, the award. With the support and presence of Chief Angel Demit and Executive Director Sid C. Vander Meer. I want to thank White River First Nation, Yukon College and the Beaver Creek Community for all your support and kind letters of support. What a great honour it is to be a part of WRFN staff and to work with all membership and fellow colleagues. I enjoy my job very much and look forward to our future and partnership with Yukon College. Information Session White River First Nation and Kaminak Gold Corporation, have partnered together to hold an information session. Sid Vander Meer, Jane Rogers, Chief Angela Demit Upcoming training in Beaver Creek: Wilderness and Remote First Aid/CPR- C October 23, 24 & 25, 2015 9:00am 5pm Beaver Creek Community Club Lunch will be provided WHMIS Online Training TDG Online Training H2S Awareness Online Training Online courses can be done through ETO office. Each course will take 3 hours. Watching of videos and the tests will be done after each chapter. We are working on other training courses through the fall and winter months to have in Beaver Creek. Watch for all postings on WRFN Website, Facebook Page and throughout the community. When: Friday, November 13th 2015 Where: Alcan Air Hanger 105 Lodestar Lane, Whitehorse Time: 12:00 5:00 Transportation: Provided by WRFN van. The van will be leaving Beaver Creek on Friday November 13th @ 8:00am. Spending one night in Whitehorse. Returning back to Beaver Creek on Saturday November 14th @ 11:00am. Anyone needing a ride to and from the event in Whitehorse, transportation will be provided. Contact Jane @ 867-862-7051. Companies such as: Kaminak Gold Corp., Alcan Air, Hemmera, Environmental Dynamics Inc. The Firelight Group. All having booths and are looking forward to speaking with everyone. Please come out!! If you are looking at Yukon College programs for fall of 2016. Go into see or call School of Academic and Skills Development at Yukon College (867-668- 8839) to set up an appointment with a Program Adviser. They can help with the assessments and steps that you may need for the minimum requirement needed for any programs. Yukon College Haines Jct. campus is offering 6 Starting Your Business seminars. Through October and November and January 2016. If you are interested in any of these seminars, contact Jane Rogers (867-862-7051) or Patty Moore, at Haines Jct. Campus 1-867-634-8800. Please drop in, call or email, to help with your career and educational goals. Any upcoming training will be posted on WRFN Website, Facebook page and around the Community of Beaver Creek. Thank You, Jane Rogers Employment and Training Officer eto@whiteriverfirstnation.com 867-862-7051
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Page 7 Kidz Fun Zone!!! Colouring
Page 8 Riddles and Jokes
Page 9 Word Search