2025 General Assembly Resolutions

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1. Increasing Resiliency in Response to Flood Risk
Resolution GA2025-01 ~ Passed by consensus
WHEREAS:
  1. Our community has experienced an increase in flooding events in recent years, exacerbated by the impacts of climate change;
  2. The health, safety, and well-being of our Citizens and other residents of Old Crow are increasingly at risk due to the proximity of essential infrastructure to flood-prone areas;
  3. Assessments have identified critical vulnerabilities in existing infrastructure that should be addressed; and
  4. The relocation and climate-resilient redesign of key infrastructure is essential to ensure the continuity of services and protection of our community members.
THEREFORE, the General Assembly of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation resolves that:
  1. Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation Council and Administration will engage with territorial and federal governments to begin discussions regarding the potential relocation and climate-resilient redesign of the solid waste facility, sewage lagoon and airport; and
  2. The Government Services department will consider and explore options for the relocation of the recently purchased camp (previously known as Keta Camp).
2. Restoring Teechik as the official name for our community at the confluence of the Porcupine River and Crow River
Resolution GA2025-02 ~ Passed by majority
WHEREAS:
  1. The Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation community, located at the confluence of the Porcupine River and Crow River, is currently known as Old Crow;
  2. This community was originally known as Teechik, a name rooted in our language, history, and cultural identity;
  3. The name Old Crow was adopted later after the death of a respected Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation Chief known as Deetru K’avihdik (Crow May I Walk); and
  4. The Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation wishes to restore our traditional name for our community.
THEREFORE, the General Assembly of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation resolves that:
  1. The Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation explore, in consultation with Citizens and with support from the Natural Resources and Heritage department, the restoration of Teechik as the official name of our community at the confluence of the Porcupine and Crow Rivers; and
  2. The Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation Council and Administration explore engaging with territorial, federal and other partners to initiate any official processes required to officially change the name and ensure it is being utilized.
3. Constitution Review and Legislation Development Committee Extension of Term
Resolution GA2025-03 ~ Passed by consensus
WHEREAS:
  1. The Constitution Review and Legislation Development Committee has an important role in the government with a lot of work still to do, and not enough time to address the complexity of the mandate.
THEREFORE, the General Assembly of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation resolves that:
  1. Council consider extending the term of the Constitution Review and Legislation Development Committee until February 2031 and will transition through to the next elected leadership.
4. Appointment of Protector of Trusts
Resolution GA2025-04 ~ Not passed
WHEREAS:
  1. The General Assembly had directed a review of the Trusts by passing GA Resolution 2023-09;
  2. The General Assembly was Protector for the Vuntut Gwitchin Trust and the Vuntut Gwitchin Business Trust;
  3. Per GA Resolution 2024-11, a three-person committee of Protectors was appointed to replace the General Assembly as the Protector of the Trusts; and
  4. The General Assembly now wishes to appoint Stephen Mills as Protector of both Trusts.
THEREFORE, the General Assembly of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation resolves that:
  1. The appointment of Stephen Mills is reaffirmed as Protector of the Trusts to fulfill the duties of the Protector in accordance with the Trust deeds on an interim basis until the Trust review is completed; and
  2. As the Protector, Stephen Mills will present back to the 2026 General Assembly.
5. Appointment of Protector of the Vuntut Gwitchin Trust and Vuntut Gwitchin Business Trust
Resolution GA2025-05 ~ Passed by consensus
WHEREAS:
  1. The General Assembly had directed a review of the Trusts by passing GA Resolution 2023-09;
  2. The General Assembly was Protector for the Vuntut Gwitchin Trust and the Vuntut Gwitchin Business Trust;
  3. Per GA Resolution 2024-11, a three-person committee of Protectors was appointed to replace the General Assembly as the Protector of the Trusts;
  4. The Vuntut Gwitchin Trust and Vuntut Gwitchin Business Trust needs an interim Protector;
  5. Erika Tizya-Tramm has agreed to put her name forward for the role as Protector; and
  6. The General Assembly now wishes to appoint Erika Tizya-Tramm as Protector of both Trusts.
THEREFORE, the General Assembly of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation resolves that:
  1. Erika Tizya-Tramm be appointed by the Vuntut Gwitchin General Assembly as Protector of the Vuntut Gwitchin Trust and the Vuntut Gwitchin Business Trust to fulfill the duties of the Protector in accordance with the Trust Deeds on an interim basis until the Trust review is completed;
  2. The Vuntut Gwitchin General Assembly wishes for the Protector to ensure that the Trust review is underway;
  3. Trust review includes identifying any recommended amendments or other recommendations related to the Trust Deeds and other related Trust documents for consideration by the General Assembly; and
  4. As Protector, Erika Tizya-Tramm will present back to the 2026 General Assembly.
6. Protection of Our Way of Life with Caribou and Iizhik Gwats’an Gwandaii Goodlit
Resolution GA2025-06 ~ Passed by consensus
WHEREAS:
  1. Caribou is our lifeline as Gwich’in people and our traditional cultural way of life now and for the future generation; and
  2. The current threat to Iizhik Gwats’an Gwandaii Goodlit (Arctic National Wildlife Refuge) has increased due to the political situation in the United States.
THEREFORE, the General Assembly of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation resolves that:
  1. Council will make permanent protection of Iizhik Gwats’at Gwandaii Goodlit (Arctic National Wildlife Refuge) a priority;
  2. Council will ensure every level of government is made aware of our situation; and
  3. A resolution to this effect will be submitted to the Assembly of First Nations at its next Annual General Assembly in September 2025.
7. Health and Social Department Crisis
Resolution GA2025-07 ~ Passed by consensus
WHEREAS:
  1. The Health and Social Department is currently in crisis, without enough resources to provide services to Citizens who need support; and
  2. Hiring and retaining new staff will take time.
THEREFORE, the General Assembly of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation resolves that:
  1. Health and Social services will be made a priority; and
  2. All avenues will be considered to provide services including short-term contractors and other solutions.
8. Respect the Disbursement Committee’s Decisions for Housing Allocation
Resolution GA2025-08 ~ Passed by consensus
WHEREAS:
  1. The current Disbursement Committee makes decisions democratically about housing allocations. These decisions are then brought to the Chief and Council table where leadership can veto or accept the decisions;
  2. Citizens deserve fair process; and
  3. Chief and Council are meant to be at arm’s length from administrative processes.
THEREFORE, the General Assembly of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation resolves that:
  1. Leadership honour the Disbursement Committee’s decisions; and
  2. Leadership be removed from the housing allocation decision-making process.
9. Ben Chuck’s Program on CHON FM
Resolution GA2025-09 ~ Passed by consensus
WHEREAS:
  1. Ben Chuck has a long-standing, well received program on CHON FM;
  2. Vuntut Gwitchin language and culture are important; and
  3. This program connects our community and contributes to wellness and language preservation.
THEREFORE, the General Assembly of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation resolves that:
  1. Ben Chuck’s program on CHON FM will continue to be financially supported.
10. Hiring a Proposal Writer
Resolution GA2025-10 ~ Passed by consensus
WHEREAS:
  1. Our community is in need of additional services, supports and infrastructure; and
  2. There are many places to obtain funding from federal, territorial and private sources.
THEREFORE, the General Assembly of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation resolves that:
  1. The Executive Office will consider hiring a proposal writer to coordinate raising funds across all departments and tracking different funding opportunities.
11. Permanent Protection of Old Crow Flats from Industrial Activity
Resolution GA2025-11 ~ Passed by consensus
WHEREAS:
  1. The Crow Flats Management Plan included the withdrawal of the non-settlement land outside the core area of the Crow Flats wetlands from industrial activity for a period of 20 years;
  2. The withdrawal order will expire in August 2026 unless renewed and extended by the Government of Yukon; and
  3. The entire Crow Flats wetlands should be protected from industrial activity in perpetuity.
THEREFORE, the General Assembly of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation resolves that:
  1. Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation commence discussions with the Government of Yukon to extend the current withdrawal order of non-settlement land outside the core area of the Crow Flats wetlands from industrial activity in perpetuity before it expires in August 2026, and further, invite the Government of Yukon Minister of Environment to meet with the Citizens of Old Crow as is mutually agreed upon.
12. Creating a makerspace to support an Arts Collective in Old Crow
Resolution GA2025-12 ~ Passed by consensus
WHEREAS:
  1. The Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation (VGFN) has not determined, or repurposed, the old community hall since building the new Darius Elias Community Hall;
  2. With rising opioid poisonings, post-COVID social fracturing, the culling of communal outdoor space in the community, and the influence of Starlink, our community is at a critical state;
  3. It is proven harm reduction to create art; we need to be supporting mental health and wellness with not only programming but also infrastructure that supports on-going self-directed initiatives and programming;
  4. An arts-centered space has been requested over the years by Citizens;
  5. As a nation, we should support youth’s vision forward and show them we are listening and that they matter;
  6. This initiative will support The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, specifically Articles 11(1) and 31: Article 11.1, which states: Indigenous peoples have the right to practice and revitalize their cultural traditions and customs. This includes the right to maintain, protect and develop the past, present and future manifestations of their cultures, such as archaeological and historical sites, artefacts, designs, ceremonies, technologies and visual and performing arts and literature;
  7. Nurturing our community’s artistic talents is a smart move for building self-esteem, learning new skills, and eventually, growing the local economy and tourism. There is a growing global respect for Indigenous art, craft and culture, with a large market in the Yukon such as Adaka, and across Canada such as Indigenous Fashion Week in Toronto and Vancouver. There are even Indigenous makers from the Yukon showcasing in Santa Fe, Milan, and Paris; and
  8. By dedicating the old community hall to a youth-led makerspace, we are honouring the vision of our ancestors who dreamed of and built the old hall.
THEREFORE, the General Assembly of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation resolves that:
  1. VGFN support the development of an Old Crow based Arts Collective;
  2. The vision of the Arts Collective and renovation of the old hall will be created through community engagement;
  3. A Gwich’in person will be hired as a project-lead/arts administrator to carry out this vision with support of youth and VGFN; and
  4. Sufficient funds will be allocated for the renovation of the old community hall, purchasing equipment, and paying a project lead.
13. Tl’oo K’at (Aftercare/Wellness Programming)
Resolution GA2025-13 ~ Passed by consensus
WHEREAS:
  1. Many Citizens have been funded to go to treatment, yet there is a lack of support in the community when they return;
  2. Aftercare is one of the most important parts of a successful treatment program;
  3. We need short-term and long-term solutions to support Citizens seeking addictions or mental wellness supports; and
  4. We need to invest in our Citizens who have experience going to treatment, surviving addictions; these Citizens also have cultural and community expertise.
THEREFORE, the General Assembly of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation resolves that:
  1. VGFN develop a low-barrier aftercare program/on-the-land wellness programming; and
  2. VGFN work on short-term and long-term planning for aftercare/wellness programming.
14. The Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation Consent and Consultation for any Proposed Military Activities in the Traditional Territory
Resolution GA2025-14 ~ Passed by consensus
WHEREAS:
  1. Canada is planning to increase its military activities in the Arctic;
  2. The militarization of the Arctic has the potential to significantly impact the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation and its Traditional Territory; 
  3. The Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation Final Agreement includes requirements for Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation consent to be sought for military access on Settlement Land; and
  4. Canada also has a duty to consult and accommodate the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation regarding proposed military activities that may adversely impact the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation’s inherent, aboriginal, and treaty rights, responsibilities and interests.
THEREFORE, the General Assembly of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation resolves that:
  1. The Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation establish a process for Canada to seek the free, prior and informed consent of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation for any proposed military activities in the Traditional Territory.
15. Medical Travel support for VGFN Citizens
Resolution GA2025-15 ~ Passed by consensus
WHEREAS:
  1. We have to send our Citizens out of community to receive medical care; and
  2. Navigating medical spaces, understanding conversations with doctors and other medical staff, and ensuring proper drugs/medicine are available and received, is not always easy to follow.
THEREFORE, the General Assembly of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation resolves that:
  1. VGFN Health and Wellness needs to ensure that the Non-Insured Health Benefits program is providing adequate support for individuals travelling for medical by ensuring responsible chaperones/guardians/caregivers are chosen and trained; 
  2. When needed to bridge support provided by the Non-Insured Health Benefits program, VGFN provide support for accommodations, travel, meals, and incidentals prior to travel, as well as check-in, on and during, and followed up afterwards; and
  3. VGFN explore developing a medical travel assistant role to support Citizens traveling for medical, and to advocate for proper medical care. Supports could include VGFN providing a purchase order to hold rooms in lieu of credit card, providing a van in Whitehorse for medical purposes, and paying medical escorts when necessary.
16. Sree Vyaa and ATCO Electric Yukon Partnership
Resolution GA2025-16 ~ Passed by consensus
WHEREAS:
  1. Sree Vyaa is in its fourth year of operation and the results given at the 2025 General Assembly show positive increased production; and
  2. ATCO Electric Yukon pays VGFN for energy production from Sree Vyaa each month.
THEREFORE, the General Assembly of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation resolves that:
  1. The VGFN Senior Energy Analyst research/investigate the Sree Vyaa energy production numbers to determine if ATCO Electric Yukon can provide a rebate to all residential homes in Old Crow.
17. Elders Council (GA Resolution 2023-03)
Resolution GA2025-17 ~ Passed by consensus
WHEREAS:
  1. The General Assembly passed GA Resolution 2023-03;
  2. The Elders Council has an important role in our government under the Constitution;
  3. The Elders Council has no budget, staff, training or office space;
  4. Elders want to represent themselves on the Elders Council; and
  5. The Elders Council should be at arms’ length from Chief and Council and represent all Elders.
THEREFORE, the General Assembly of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation resolves that:
  1. The Elders Council be activated and supported immediately;
  2. The Elders Council will be given an operational budget for an executive director, executive assistant, training, travel, legal councel, and community consultation by December 2025; and
  3. The Elders Council office will operate from the Darius Elias Community Hall office space and be able to access the hall for meetings.
18. Establishing the Review Council (GA Resolution 2023-04)
Resolution GA2025-18 ~ Passed by consensus
WHEREAS:
  1. The General Assembly passed GA Resolution 2023-04;
  2. The Review Council is embedded in our Vuntut Gwitchin Constitution, our highest law;
  3. As per the Vuntut Gwitchin Constitution, the Review Council has incredibly important duties, including but not limited to: recounts in an election, complaints about Chief and Council, removal from office, and appointments of interim councillors;
  4. The Vuntut Gwitchin government has never taken the necessary steps to enact the Review Council into operation as per the Vuntut Gwitchin Constitution; and
  5. As per the Vuntut Gwitchin Constitution, the scope and authority of the Review Council shall be set out in the Governance Act and other related legislation.
THEREFORE, the General Assembly of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation resolves that:
  1. Chief and Council direct the Constitution Review and Legislation Development Committee to set forth the scope, rules of fairness, ethics, and authority of the Review Council as per the Vuntut Gwitchin Constitution; and
  2. Be it further resolved that Chief and Council enact the Review Council into Vuntut Gwitchin law once the scope and authority has been set forth by the Constitution Review and Legislation Development Committee.
19. Vote of No Confidence in Chief
Resolution GA2025-19 ~ Passed by majority
WHEREAS:
  1. Some Citizens have issues with the current Chief; and
  2. There is no Review Council to determine if Council is acting in the best interest of Citizens.
THEREFORE, the General Assembly of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation resolves that:
  1. A motion is put forward to hold a vote of no confidence in the Chief during the 2025 General Assembly.
  2. Question performed by secret ballot: Do you have confidence in the Chief? Yes or No? (Yes means the resolution is defeated).
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