2025 General Assembly Resolutions

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1. Consultation Process for Capital Projects
Resolution GA2026-01 ~ Passed by consensus
WHEREAS:
  1. Capital projects have major impacts on community planning, financial planning, carbon emissions and dependence on fossil fuels;
  2. Capital projects have an impact on our Gwich’in way of life against “simple living” to quote the late Shawn Bruce;
  3. Capital projects are advancing with minimal community input;
  4. There is minimal assessment or communication of the impact of projects on the land, permafrost, carbon emissions, lifestyle; and
  5. Projects should be community-driven as opposed to funding driven.
THEREFORE, the General Assembly of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation resolves that:
  1. For capital projects, there be a higher expectation of consultation with the community;
  2. Capital project consultation process should include assessment of impacts, communication and consultation with the community, with a minimum number of citizens present at consultations;
  3. Citizens and VG decide on building limits, with considerations of land, carbon emissions, dependence on fossil fuels, noise disturbance, financial planning and lifestyle changes; and
  4. VG revisit and implement the Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw.
2. Committee Membership
Resolution GA2026-02 ~ Passed by consensus
WHEREAS:
  1. Recommendations and decisions impacting Old Crow residents applications are being made by current members who live outside of Old Crow
  2. Outside VG members are not familiar with what is happening at the grass roots in Old Crow
THEREFORE, the General Assembly of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation resolves that:
  1. VGFN Disbursement Committee terms of reference should be reviewed in consultation with Citizens.
  2. Disbursement Committee membership should be balanced between Citizen residents and Citizen nonresidents
  3. Ensure that an appeal process for Citizens is added to the Disbursement Committee terms of reference.
  4. Disbursement Committee decisions should be reviewed to ensure procedural fairness, reasons for decision are communicated to Citizens, ability to review or appeal is explained to the Citizen.
  5. VGFN consider creating a Housing Committee to deal specifically with housing.
3. Education Funding Timely Payment
Resolution GA2026-03 ~ Passed by consensus
WHEREAS:
  1. VG students rely on funding from VGFN for tuition, living allowance and travel funds; and
  2. VG students are at risk of being evicted if they fail to pay rent, or losing their seat if their tuition is not paid or incurring fees for late payment of tuition
THEREFORE, the General Assembly of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation resolves that:
  1. All post-secondary tuition be paid in August and December each year with exception of the short term courses; and
  2. All living allowances be paid on the last Friday of the month.
4. VG Business Trust Deemed Disposition under the Tax Act
Resolution GA2026-04 ~ Passed by consensus
WHEREAS:
  1. The Vuntut Gwitchin Business Trust deed of settlement came into effect on May 30, 2006;
  2. The Canadian Tax system has a 21-year deemed disposition rule for trusts (meaning assets are recorded at their fair or market value);
  3. The Vuntut Gwitchin Business Trust engaged Craig McDougall of the law firm Felsky Flynn for an interpretation of the 21-year deemed disposition rule and its possible application to the Vuntut Gwitchin Business Trust;
  4. Mr. McDougall prepared a letter to the Business Trust with the opinion the 21-year rule may be avoided if the Trusts interests have vested indefeasibly in its beneficiaries (meaning the interests are fixed, absolute, and unconditional, which in turn means the owner has a guaranteed right to it that cannot be taken away, changed, or defeated by any future event or third party ); and
  5. Mr. McDougall, in his letter to the Trust, said that Clauses 10 and 12 of the Trust Deed may result in the Trusts interests not vesting indefeasibly in its beneficiaries.
THEREFORE, the General Assembly of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation resolves that:
  1. The General Assembly of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation on this 23rd day of October 2026, directs the trustees of the Vuntut Gwitchin Business Trust and Vuntut Gwitchin Trust to contact Mr. McDougall to ask if there are any amendments that could be made to the Trust deeds to strengthen the Trust's position; and ensure the Trust deeds also fit the criteria of being vested indefeasibly in its beneficiaries.
5. Air North – Cargo and Services
Resolution GA2026-05 ~ Passed by consensus
WHEREAS:
  1. The Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation holds a 49% ownership interest in Air North, Yukon's Airline.
  2. Air North serves as the primary transportation and cargo lifeline for Old Crow, the home of the Vuntut Gwitchin people.
  3. Inlation is getting higher for cargo, to the point it is detrimental to the food security and livelihood of our people.
  4. There are outside influences on the inflations amid the ongoing conflict involving the United States & the Middle East.
  5. Our people are dependent upon the services Air North provides, for various reasons such as medical, food security, education, equipment and survival aspects that are not available in Old Crow.
  6. VGFN needs to have more say on the prices we pay and the services we receive from a company that we partially own.
  7. Freight costs paid by the Old Crow Co-op contribute to high grocery prices and place additional financial pressure on Citizens and families.
THEREFORE, the General Assembly of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation resolves that:
  1. VGFN provide an update on the board representatives currently advocating for our people’s needs at that table on a more regular basis. These people need to hear the needs and concerns our people have with this company.
  2. VGFN advocates for food security needs and lowering of freight prices with Air North for our people and our pets, such as Dog Food, dogs are an integral part of our community needs with the Air North company.
  3. Chief and Council request that VGFN’s Air North Board representatives address the Old Crow Co-op’s freight costs at the next Board meeting and advocate for reduced rates, with the goal of passing savings on to customers through lower grocery prices.
6. Conflict Resolution
Resolution GA2026-06 ~ Passed by consensus
WHEREAS:
  1. Like many communities, lateral and systemic violence are present in Old Crow;
  2. Our Nation works the best when we work with each other;
  3. VGFN has a Respectful Behavior Policy passed in January 2025;
  4. Many citizens, staff, former staff and community members have meaningfully attempted to engage in our self-government and reached out to leadership only to be ignored, forcing citizens to �ind other avenues to seek answers and accountability;
  5. When a Chief, Council members and/or the Executive Director are systemically violent towards community members, there are no con�lict resolution options available to victims outside of the setting where the harm was experienced as currently con�lict resolution goes through the Executive Director;
  6. This is not safe if the Executive Director was one of the people perpetuating or supporting the harm caused;
  7. The General Assembly has proven to not be an adequate place for community members to feel heard or to seek justice when facing systemic violence within our Nation; and
  8. Community members deserve a safe and supported avenue to work through con�lict with their Chiefs, Council Members and Executive Directors and vice versa.
THEREFORE, the General Assembly of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation resolves that:
  1. All Chief and Council, Executive Directors, Directors and staff be required to take lateral violence workshops such as the Lateral Kindness workshop created by Marilyn Jensen and this would be available also to community members;
  2. VGFN will finance the workshops;
  3. VGFN will comply with the VGFN Respectful Behavior Policy to have mandatory lateral violence training;
  4. The General Assembly propose a safe and supported pathway for community members to navigate systemic violence within our Nation such as a list of mediators, talking circle facilitators, ombudsperson, etc.; and
  5. Plan and review with Citizens how to make our laws, policies and procedures more de-centralized and give more power to Citizens. Work with Citizens to find ways to move forward with conflict in our Nation and find mechanisms to put in place to go to mediation before conflict escalates.
7. Nin K’ih Tsal: Children’s Play Space
Resolution GA2026-07 ~ Passed by consensus
WHEREAS:
  1. There was a GA Resolution in 2020 to open safe places to play for little children;
  2. Nin’K’ih Tsal play space opened in 2021 and was a drop-in space for children under 5;
  3. VGFN spent over $30K to buy the furniture and materials in the space to make it a safe and welcoming space for little children and families;
  4. Language nest programming was hosted at Nin K’ih Tsal for two years;
  5. Old Crow Early Years program was hosted at Nin K’ih Tsal for four years;
  6. Child Development Centre (CDC) used Nin K’ih Tsal for appointments with kids when they came to town three times a year for four years;
  7. Yukon Government Healthy Families hosted events at Nin K’ih Tsal when they came to town every month for four years;
  8. YFNED stopped running Nin K’ih Tsal as the drop-in centre because they could not insure the building under their liability insurance and their funding had been reduced from Jordan’s Principle;
  9. YFNED is currently using the building for storage; YFNED never paid rent to use the building;
  10. There is currently no gathering space in the community that is safe and welcoming for programming and activities for children under 5;
  11. There has been discussion that the food bank will use this building for storage;
THEREFORE, the General Assembly of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation resolves that:
  1. VGFN should ask YFNED to remove all their storage by the end of December and reopen Nin K’ih Tsal and allow VGFN Recreation, Child Development Centre, YG Healthy Families, Language Nest, and parent volunteers to open and use the play space.
  2. VGFN should also consider moving forward, using the of�ice in the play space for the family support worker position and including it in that position’s responsibilities to open the play space as a drop-in centre during the day.
8. Wellness Training & Certification Supports
Resolution GA2026-08 ~ Passed by consensus
WHEREAS:
  1. There is a lack of Recovery Support people in the Health & Wellness departments, limiting access to healing and wellness for members.
  2. There is a need for additional knowledge, and program access to help people become certified faster to help support those in need.
  3. We recognize and value individuals with lived and learned experience of mental health, substance use, and addiction; their experience provides a deeper understanding in these areas.
  4. A state of emergency has been declared with the opioid and addiction situation in our First Nation as well as in the Yukon Government.
  5. We know there are other ways to work and heal within our people, we the Vuntut Gwitchin are a spiritual people who are connected to the land, the spirit world as well as the elements such as fire and water than non-FNs people. We know all of these connections aid in our healing.
THEREFORE, the General Assembly of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation resolves that:
  1. VGFN to implement initiatives that align with a focus on recruitment, training, and retention of Citizens with lived experience by providing opportunities and financial assistance to gain certification and skills that will help them take part in opportunities that arise to help this crisis.
  2. VGFN to increase and prioritize or create positions wherever feasible to provide Citizens, with opportunities for career development in this field that they would naturally excel at because of their lived experience.
  3. VGFN provides moneys that is easily accessed to gain certification in recovery and alternative healing methods.
  4. VGFN to provide and promote first aid training opportunities for youth and Elders, along with other skills-based training programs that support employment readiness.
  5. VGFN to hold Elders and Youth Wellness Gathering for people to learn skills for a healthy life.
  6. VGFN to continue to fund and support the Crow Mountain Camp with the same staff to keep consistency with community relationships.
9. Language Revitalization
Resolution GA2026-09 ~ Passed by consensus
WHEREAS:
  1. The Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation Language is one of the languages that is funded for revitalization from the federal government of Canada.
  2. Not everyone can live in Old Crow & currently all language initiatives are held only within Old Crow.
  3. Language and recordings of our people’s Elders and speakers are housed within the VGFN.
  4. All citizens have the right to access language learning, our culture and our history.
  5. There are new ways of communicating and sharing information and on-line learning now in the world.
THEREFORE, the General Assembly of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation resolves that:
  1. VGFN provide language learning that will be accessible to all their citizens, regardless of where they live, via zoom and recordings of lessons.
  2. VGFN to research ways to provide safe access to the recordings of our elders and speakers for our membership to gain a deeper understanding of the language as well as our stories and history.
11. Elders Home Safety
Resolution GA2026-11 ~ Passed by consensus
WHEREAS:
  1. The Elders Home is a place for Elders to live independently together in our community.
  2. Currently people are coming and going from the Home at all times creating safety issues for the Elder residents at the Home.
THEREFORE, the General Assembly of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation resolves that:
  1. Health and Social Department secure funding to hire full time staff to oversee the Victoria Blake Memorial Home and provide 24 hour safety; and
  2. Health and Social Department keep the building for Elders only and cease using the units for staff housing and transient workers.
12. Increasing Education Department Capacity to Invest in Youth Education at Chief Zzeh Gittlit School
Resolution GA2026-12 ~ Passed by consensus
WHEREAS:
  1. It has been a struggle to get land camps and daily or weekly supported educational activities due to school staff limitations, important locally driven education initiatives, such as Fall Hunt and Spring Camp, are inadequately resourced, resulting in many challenges and safety issues for students;
  2. On the land outdoor activities like camps, ski trails, Crow Point, berry picking are valuable for learners and teachers and can't take place without adequate support;
  3. Other Yukon First Nations have many different ESWs with different skills that support each other as a team;
  4. Students in Old Crow do not receive the same level of education as schools elsewhere in the territory and therefore are not being adequately prepared for post-secondary education and a professional career;
  5. Students in Old Crow do not have access to adequate educational supports, such as Education Assistants, Learning Assistance Teachers, tutors and school counsellors, which affects their schooling and even their ability to attend school; and
  6. Chief Zzeh Giitlit School and its students need more involvement from VGFN to bolster the limited capacity of the First Nations School Board and Yukon Department of Education
THEREFORE, the General Assembly of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation resolves that:
  1. VGFN assess the current situation and look for ways to build the ESW capacity in a sustainable way;
  2. ESW classroom support can be more broad than cultural and on the land support for example language support, helping with behavior management, role models in the school, art and music programming to supplement their learning, knowledge keepers in the school;
  3. VGFN create more staff positions in the Education Department (e.g. Educational Support Workers, tutors, etc) in Old Crow to meet students’ educational needs and to successfully deliver community-driven programming priorities (e.g. Fall Hunt); and
  4. VGFN explore opportunities within its power to incentivize staffing at Chief Zzeh Gittlit School
13. Crow Mountain Quarry Planning and Consultation
Resolution GA2026-13 ~ Passed by consensus
WHEREAS:
  1. The Crow Mountain quarry is expanding quickly and so is construction in the community;
  2. There are plans to raise the roads three feet and more construction plans that will require more gravel;
  3. There is not a plan with a limit or thresholds for gravel use and construction; and
  4. Crow Mountain is an important habitat for harvesting caribou and berry picking.
THEREFORE, the General Assembly of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation resolves that:
  1. VGFN conduct community consultation to create a strategic plan with thresholds, seasonal and long-term goals for how much gravel can be taken from Crow Mountain quarry;
  2. The plan should take into consideration when caribou are migrating;
  3. Construction planning in the future will have to comply with the plan;
  4. VGFN to review past resolutions that are relevant to the Crow Mountain land use; and
  5. VGFN to assess the damage done to Crow Mountain by the new ATV road and plan for remediation.
14. Government Staff Support for Community Programming in Old Crow
Resolution GA2026-14 ~ Passed by consensus
WHEREAS:
  1. Community programming in Old Crow supports the well-being, culture, and connection of Citizens throughout the year.
  2. Community members delivering programming, including at Mountain Camp, have difficulty finding enough help to plan and carry out activities.
  3. Greater participation from government staff across all departments would strengthen community programming and share the workload.
THEREFORE, the General Assembly of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation resolves that:
  1. The Vuntut Gwitchin Government coordinate staff participation across all departments to support community programming in Old Crow throughout the year.
  2. Staff support includes planning, preparation, setup, delivery, and cleanup, in coordination with community members and program organizers.
  3. Department managers coordinate staff time and responsibilities to make this support part of regular work planning while maintaining essential government services.
15. Annual Funding and Planning for Recurring Community Programs
Resolution GA2026-15 ~ Passed by consensus
WHEREAS:
  1. Recurring community programs, including the fall hunt, community cleanup, and traditional pursuits, support the culture, well-being, and needs of Vuntut Gwitchin Citizens.
  2. Reliable annual funding is needed to plan and deliver these programs consistently.
  3. Including these programs in annual government planning and budgeting would support their continuity and timely delivery.
THEREFORE, the General Assembly of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation resolves that:
  1. The Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation must establish a dedicated annual funding for recurring community programs, including the fall hunt, community cleanup, and traditional pursuits.
  2. Funding for these programs must be included as a standing commitment in each annual government budget.
  3. Responsible departments incorporate these programs into their annual work plans, with funding, staffing, and resources confirmed early enough to support timely planning and delivery.
16. Establishment of a Citizen Wellness Fund
Resolution GA2026-16 ~ Passed by consensus
WHEREAS:
  1. Vuntut Gwitchin Citizens have different wellness needs and should be supported in choosing approaches that help them heal and improve their well-being.
  2. Wellness may include time on the land, programs within Old Crow, or participation in programs outside Old Crow.
  3. A dedicated wellness fund, modelled on the Traditional Pursuits funding approach, would support access to these opportunities through a partnership between Citizens and the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation.
  4. Clear application and reporting requirements are needed to ensure accountability while respecting Citizens’ privacy
THEREFORE, the General Assembly of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation resolves that:
  1. The Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation to establish a Citizen Wellness Fund with dedicated annual funding to support Citizen-selected wellness activities and programs, both in Old Crow and elsewhere.
  2. The fund will operate through a program established by VGFN or through a supported application process in which Citizens identify their wellness goals, explain how their proposed activity or program (for example including sports) would benefit them, and provide a plan and budget.
  3. The Government establish clear eligibility, approval, funding, and payment guidelines, with staff working alongside Citizens to coordinate access to approved activities and programs.
  4. Recipients provide a report after completing their activity or program describing their participation, how it supported their wellness goals, and how the funding was used.
  5. Application and reporting requirements protect personal health information, offer assistance where needed, and recognize that healing is an ongoing process with different outcomes for each person.
17. Establishment of a Full-Time Healthcare Liaison Position
Resolution GA2026-17 ~ Passed by consensus
WHEREAS:
  1. Vuntut Gwitchin Citizens living in Old Crow face challenges accessing specialized medical care that requires travel outside the community.
  2. Citizens, particularly Elders, may experience difficulties navigating medical travel arrangements, attending specialized appointments, understanding medical terminology and diagnoses, and finding their way in unfamiliar large cities such as Vancouver.
  3. A dedicated healthcare liaison would provide consistent support to help Citizens navigate the healthcare system and access the care they need.
THEREFORE, the General Assembly of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation resolves that:
  1. The Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation must fund and establish a full-time healthcare liaison position to assist Citizens in navigating the healthcare system.
  2. The liaison supports Citizens with medical travel coordination, creating a list of approved escorts when/if needed, appointment arrangements, transportation, and navigating services in communities where they receive care.
  3. The liaison will help Citizens communicate with healthcare providers, obtain clear explanations of medical information, and understand follow-up instructions, while respecting Citizens’ privacy and consent.
18. Partnership with Food Bank and Food Distribution Centre in Community
Resolution GA2026-18 ~ Passed by consensus
WHEREAS:
  1. The cost of food in community is increasing with Canada’s trade uncertainty.
  2. We have community members who are not able to hunt and provide traditional foods for themselves or their families.
  3. We have Elders and community members who are not able to work or are single income and cannot afford the cost of foods
  4. The Food Bank has been actively supporting our community but can only provide dry goods for food storage reasons
  5. The Food Bank wants to support our community more and came to Old Crow in April and talked with the community about food storage and distribution.
  6. Food distribution for the food bank has moved around from different departments and community members and is not part of the job description for any one employee.
THEREFORE, the General Assembly of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation resolves that:
  1. VGFN will work with the Yukon Food Bank and work towards opening a community food distribution centre in Old Crow including storage for dry, frozen, and refrigerated foods.
  2. VGFN would identify an employee or department who this would fall under and dedicate the needed resources to help to organize a fair distribution list where community members can sign up and local hunters can donate traditional foods, like fish and meat and they can be distributed to community members.
19. Private Home Insurance
Resolution GA2026-19 ~ Passed by consensus
WHEREAS:
  1. Some privately owned homes in Old Crow are covered by VGFN's insurance for VGFN owned homes and some privately owned homes in Old Crow are not currently covered; and
  2. The VGFN housing policy is not clear about how this arrangement works.
THEREFORE, the General Assembly of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation resolves that:
  1. All privately owned homes be added to the VGFN Housing Insurance if possible; and
  2. A policy be developed to clarify how this works.
20. Creation of a Gun Range in Old Crow
Resolution GA2026-20 ~ Passed by consensus
WHEREAS:
  1. Vuntut Gwitchin and other Old Crow citizens rely heavily on harvesting for sustenance and well-being
  2. Wounding of animals occurs when hunting and is largely avoidable by sighting-in rifles and learning to shoot accurately
  3. It is essential for new hunters to learn to shoot properly and for all hunters to ensure their rifles are firing accurately
  4. There is no location in the Old Crow area for people to safely sight-in rifles and learn to shoot accurately
THEREFORE, the General Assembly of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation resolves that:
  1. VGFN determine a location and develop a gun range for Old Crow community members to sight-in rifles and practice shooting to promote better hunting practices; and
  2. VGFN promote best hunting practices for hunter education.
21. Protection of Our Way of Life with Caribou and Izhik Gwats’an Gwandaii Goodlit/Ezhik Gwats'at Gwandaii Goodlit/Ch’idigii Nanh Kak
Resolution GA2026-21 ~ 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 generations; and
  2. The current threat to Izhik Gwats’an Gwandaii Goodlit/Ezhik Gwats'at Gwandaii Goodlit/Ch’idigii Nanh Kak (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 Izhik Gwats’an Gwandaii Goodlit/Ezhik Gwats'at Gwandaii Goodlit/Ch’idigii Nanh Kak a priority;
  2. Council will ensure every level of government is made aware of our situation; and
  3. Make best efforts to support advocacy work in the United States solely from Canada.
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