OUR PAST OUR CHILDREN OUR FUTURE White River First Nation update

SUMMER 2013

A Word From the Executive Director

Greetings to all, The General Assessment is completed by AANDC every The staff put on a cookout at year for the purpose of identify- the Snag Campground on June ing potential issues that may 21, 2013 for National Aborigi- impact delivery of AANDC nal Day. The turnout was great, funded programs and services. lots of food and fun for every- Once again a huge thank you to one. A big thank you to the staff for their hard work to keep staff for doing this on their day WRFN with a low risk factor off. over the last few years, since the assessments first started.

White River First Nation re- Any questions, concerns or ceived our General Assessment comments, please call the office for the fiscal year 2012/2013. or E-mail. The results were very good, our risk factor score was 3.99 Thank you, which is ranked as low risk. Sid C. Vander Meer executivedirec- [email protected]

Deuce Vander Meer earlier this year taking part in the Idle No More protest at the Beaver Creek Customs

Inside this issue:

Executive Director 1

Lands Department 2

Lands Department Cont. 3

Wellness and Social Assistance 4

Capital Projects 4

Roland Peters at the Wolf Creek Finance and ETO 5 area during a site visit to the Teck camp Upcoming GA 5 Page 2 WHITE RIVER FIRST NATION UPDATE Land’s Department Yukon calls for firefighter assistance as lightning sparked over 23 for- est fires in Yukon. Causing the territory to request additional help from 107 B.C. firefighters. Due to the Chisana Fire, Beaver Creek was close to an evacuation call this year summer, but rain came in the nick of time.

Appropriate Consultation Process Concern: White River First Nation must have sufficient resources to review and assess proposed amend- ments and seek technical assistance to understand the potential im- pacts, undertake community dialogues, if required; and prepare for and participate in engagements with Yukon Territory Government official.

Proposed amendments to the Yukon Environment and Social Econom- ic Assessment Act Legislative addressing agreed recommendations resulting from the YESAA five-year review.

The Yukon government consultation on proposed amendment to the Wildlife Act. Some First Nations are seeking view on proposed consistency amendments.

3-person crew conducted helicopter-based surveys for these two rare Glenn Stephen at the Wolf plants the Spiked Saxifrage habitat near Beaver Creek and the Yukon Creek area during a site visit to Woodroot July 12th. the Teck camp

Andre from Teck Mining Exploration noted Monday morning July 15 was Heritage Prelimi- nary Reconnaissance and Impact Assessment of Teck's exploration targets. ‘It was great when Roland Peters and Glenn Stephen joined out in the field. We went over the Health and Safety Manual and a few other safety subjects.’ Roland was temporary hired for the day with Ecofor. Teck Mining Wolf project is near the White Riv- er Lodge. Frieda Nieman is the cook helper there.

The Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Coun- cil agrees to continue the clean up and preserva- tion of the Yukon River. It is currently looking for youth (age 13-25) to participation at the YRITWC Biennial Summit. August 2-4, 2013 in Mayo, Yukon Contact Glenn Stephen Glenn Stephen and Roland Peters gaining safety [email protected] knowledge before boarding the helicopter

“You hold the future of our rivers”. Page 3 WHITE RIVER FIRST NATION UPDATE Land’s Department Cont. On October 22, 2012, WRFN come a public document. The • WRFN CONSULTS filed a Petition against the Yukon report is intended to show Yukon WITH YG ON ALL MINING Government/Tarsis Resources Government and Canada the are- WITH IN BOTH ABOVE as WRFN recognizes as the MENTIONED MAPS. (mining exploration activities in WRFN Ancestral Territory. • WRFN AND LIARD the Koidern Mt area). The duty to Thank you to Norm Easton, Dr. FIRST NATION CONTINUE consult with WRFN was not met D. Kennedy and R. Bouchard for TO WORK CLOSELY ON by YG. Court dates were April 18 putting in numerous hours into SIMILAR LANDS FILES. and 19, 2013. July 5, 2013 this report. A copy of the report WRFN won the court case. Judge can be reviewed at the WRFN ALL QUESTIONS CAN BE Veale ‘ it is disingenuous to sug- office. DIRECTED TO JANET VANDER MEER gest that the First Nation has a The information in the Northern weak claim. It is a strong claim’. Boundary report supports the OFFICE: (867) 862-7802 ‘the Director [YG Energy, Mines WRFN 1990 map. The 1988 and Resources] has breached his Kluane Tribal Council map (the WHITEHORSE: duty to consult and accommodate map recognized by Canada and (867) 633-2943 (PHONE the White River First Nation by YG) and the 1990 Map (the map AND FAX) failing to provide a meaningful WRFN is re-asserting to YG and Canada). process…’ . WRFN sent out a Lands: media release July 8, 2013. It was picked up by Yukon News,  WRFN TECHNICAL Whitehorse Star, APTN, CBC TEAM radio, CBC North. IS CONTINUING TO NEGOTI- ATE WITH EXPLORATION Assertion of WRFN’s Tradition- COMPANIES LOCATED al/Ancestral Territory: WITH IN THE WRFN 1990 The WRFN ‘Northern Boundary MAP BOUNDARY AS WELL DRAFT Report’ was presented to AS THE YG RECOGNIZED YG/Canada February 2013. KFN/WRFN TT (1988 MAP) WRFN Traditional Knowledge is confidential therefore the North- ern Boundary report will not be- WHITE RIVER FIRST NATION UPDATE Page 4 Health Department and Wellness Wellness Update sons are welcome to see last two weeks I am the Wellness Coordinator. him. Hello members of White

River First Nation. Lastly I want to extend my Condolences to the Social Assistance Update The Wellness Program still family on the loss of Ladonna Wolf of Mentasta provides support for White Lake, Alaska; she was a member of White River Social Assistance is the River First Nation members First Nation. first Tuesday of every that are sober and want to month. If you are applying stay sober. I hope you are enjoying your summer! for the first time, please Alcohol and Drug Services bring your Status Card and came to do workshop on Jackie Johnny Social Insurance Card with “Synthetic Marijuana” and you. You need to be living 1-867-862-7623 will be coming again real in the White River First soon, as soon and we get [email protected] Nation area for at least 30 the dates, I will post. days in order to apply. We have our once a month Social Assistance should Talking Circle around the be your last resort after you third Wednesday of every have applied for jobs and month, all members are other assistance. welcome to attend.

Mike Healey still comes to I should remind all mem- Beaver Creek to provide bers that the first two Counselling Services for weeks I am the Social As- the men, however all per- sistance Worker and the

Jackie Johnny standing with the new Wellness Centre sign made by Glenn Stephen Sr.

Capital Projects Hello to all members! Last winter we did an exterior upgrade to one of Just a quick update from the Capital Department. the units. We are planning on continuing with this Unit 28 mold remediation is near completion. Also project. construction of unit12 is still under way. We are This past winter again, we had issues with frozen currently waiting for an inspector before we can septic's within the community and are looking into continue work further. replacing one and upgrading the other. WRFN had a meeting with TYG to upgrade the Thank you roads within the community. During the meeting Doug Broeren; Capital Manager we went for a drive around Beaver Creek to show which side and where all the water shut off valves [email protected] went to each house. Page 5 Con tact us!!! WHITE RIVER FIRST NATION UPDATE

White River First Finance Officer and Education and Training Officer Nation Box 2 Finance Department Beaver Creek, Yukon Territory Employment and Training Officer; Y0B 1A0 We are still looking to fill the Fi- We are also still waiting to fill this Administration Phone: nance Officer position. Tracey MacE- position. Applications are to be re- 1-867-862-7802 Toll Free: wan is doing payables for us in the viewed in the near future and Council 1-866-862-9736 can then go through the hiring pro- Administration Fax: evenings and Lisa Snyder is contract- 1-867-862-7806 ed to come to the community every cess. All school applications are to be Education & Training: sent to the Executive Director, Sid 1-867-862-7051 couple weeks to help get us ready for Wellness Centre: Vander Meer until an ETO is hired. 1-867-862-7623 the audit and to do some catch up.

Our past, Our children, Our future

Snag Junction

Upcoming GA Information

At this time the dates and venue have not been set for this years General Assem- bly. When these have been set a notice will be sent to all White River members whom have updated their contact information with Val at the office. If you are unsure or have not yet done so, please call or email your updated mailing address to the information provided below. It is greatly appreciated. Thank you. For more information please feel free to call the White River Office. White River First Nation Phone: 1-867-862-7802 Toll Free: 1-866-862-9736

Email: [email protected]