Vuntut Gwitchin rejects bid to rejoin CYFN

The Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation has rejected a proposal to rejoin the Council of Yukon First Nations, nearly three years after it left the organization.

The Old Crow-based First Nation was a member of the CYFN, which represents most of the territory's First Nations, until itsevered tiesin November 2008 due to discontent with the council's political direction.

CYFN Grand Chief Ruth Massie attended the Vuntut Gwitchin general assembly in Old Crow on Saturday, hoping to persuade the First Nation to rejoin the council.

Massie told assembly delegates that unity is key to addressing the issues of concern to all Yukoners, and the council can help build strong positions among First Nations.

"Many of our member nations utilize our services to fulfill their lack of capacities in their government structures, because we are young governments," Massie told delegates.

"CYFN works in the area of research for many of the First Nations, and we pass on the information that they require and don't have time to do themselves."

Members share costs: Massie

Massie added that federal officials have recently told her they would "only engage in discussions on some matters if all Yukon First Nations were working together."

All members of the council share the expenses related to each project, Massie said.

"It will be a shared responsibility among all members," she said.

But despite the grand chief's efforts, Vuntut Gwitchin members voted on Sunday against her proposal to rejoin.

The Council of Yukon First Nations was established in 1973 to help settle land claims in Yukon.

With that goal now largely accomplished an umbrella final agreement was signed in 1993, paving the way for members to become self-governing First Nations in the years to follow the council has been searching for a new mandate.

The Vuntut Gwitchin is one of five First Nations that are not part of the council. The others are the Kwanlin Dun First Nation in Whitehorse, the Liard and Ross River First Nations in southern Yukon, and the White River First Nation in Beaver Creek.