Yukon Land Claims

The Yukon Land Claims refer to the process of negotiating and settling aboriginal land claims agreements in the Yukon Territory in Canada.

History

Unlike other parts of Canada, Yukon First Nations did not conclude any treaties until the 1990s, despite Chief Jim Boss of the Ta'an Kwach'an requesting compensation for lost lands and hunting grounds as a result of the Klondike Gold Rush in 1902. Jim Boss' letter was ignored and it was not until the 1970s that the issue was raised again.

The current process started in 1972 with the publication of "Together Today For our Children Tomorrow" by Chief Elijah Smith.

Negotiations took place in the late 1970s and early 1980s, culminating in an agreement which was ultimately rejected.

Negotiations resumed in 198? and culminated in agreeing to an "Umbrella Final Agreement" (UFA) in 1990. The UFA is used as the framework or template for individual agreements with each of the fourteen Yukon First Nations. It came into force in 1992 when the first four First Nations ratified their land claims agreements. To date (August 2005), ten of the fourteen First Nations have signed and ratified an agreement, another two have signed agreements which were not ratified after being defeated in referendums, and two are still being negotiated.

Unlike most other Canadian land claims agreements that apply only to Status Indians, the Yukon First Nations insisted that the agreements involve everyone they considered part of their nation, whether they were recognized as Status Indians or not. In 1973, the "Yukon Indian Brotherhood" and the "Yukon Association of Non-Status Indians" formed the "Council for Yukon Indians" (CYI) to negotatiate a land claims agreement. The two organizations and the Council formally merged in 1980 under the Council for Yukon Indians name. In 1995, CYI was renamed to the Council of Yukon First Nations.

Provisions of agreements

The UFA provided for a total amount of compensation and a land quantum amounting to about 13 per cent of the Yukon's area to be returned to First Nations. Most of the land is owned outright by First Nation governments, although a number of existing reserves were retained.

Each land claims agreement is also accompanied by a Self-Government agreement that gives First Nations the right to enact legislation in a number of areas. Other provisions of the Land Claims agreement are the elimination of taxation exemptions for Yukon First Nations people (effective January 1, 2001), a restriction of hunting rights of other aboriginal peoples on each First Nation's traditional territory, etc.

External links

* [http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/nr/prs/s-d2003/02404bk_e.html Backgrounder on Kluane First Nation Final and Self-Government Agreements]
* [http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/pr/agr/umb/index_e.html Text of the Umbrella Final Agreement Between The Government Of Canada, The Council For Yukon Indians And The Government Of The Yukon]