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Signing a Letter of Understanding

Left to right (back row) Elders Kluane Martin, David Lebarge, Francis Woosley and Doris McLean join First Nation Chiefs at the signing of a Letter of Understanding. (front row) Kluane First Nation Chief Wilfred Sheldon, Kwanlin Dün Chief Mike Smith, Ta’an Kwäch’än Council Chief Ruth Massie and Kha’Shade Heni Mark Wedge of Carcross-Tagish First Nation.

On January 25, 2008, Kwanlin Dün Chief Mike Smith joined Chiefs of the Ta’an Kwäch’än Council, Carcross-Tagish First Nation and Kluane First Nation to sign a historic Letter of Understanding. One reason for coming together is because these four First Nations are at a different phase in negotiations than the seven First Nations that settled land claims earlier. The Letter of Understanding recognizes that since these four First Nations face similar issues, there are benefits to working together to ensure that their specific issues are being addressed and that they have the attention of the federal and territorial governments.

“The fact that our four First Nations will pool their resources to address all the issues not covered with the seven at the table seems to be following the natural order,” says Mike Smith.

In addition to the fact that they all recently ratified their agreements, these four First Nations have other issues in common, including being affected by living in or near Whitehorse. As a result, their traditional territories are faced with growing numbers of non-First Nations people and third-party interests, including mining, forestry, agriculture and outfitting.