Rock the Talk
SEASON 4 / EPISODE 13
June 26, 2020
COVID-19: Welcome to Phase 2
Council of Yukon First Nations Grand Chief Peter Johnston connects with communities and organizations from across the territory to talk about Phase 2 of the Re-Opening Plan as Yukon prepares to open its border with British Columbia. Special guests include Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Deputy Chief Simon Nagano, President of the Yukon First Nations Culture and Tourism Association Marilyn Jensen, Leader of the Yukon NDP Kate White, Northern Cultural Expressions Society Educator Colin Teramura, Kwanlin Dün First Nation Chief Doris Bill, and Max Zimmerman from the Yukon Child and Youth Advocate Office.
Part I: Simon Nagano: Preparing for What's Next
Grand Chief Peter Johnston connects with Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Deputy Chief Simon Nagano to talk about the new COVID reality and what the prospect of moving to Phase 2 of Yukon's Re-Opening Plan on July 1 could mean for the community. Deputy Chief Nagano shares the latest on community programs, the upcoming community elections, the flooding situation, the local economy, the plans for summer gatherings and much, much more.
Photo Credit: Simon Nagano / Audio Courtesy: 98.1 CHON-FM
Part II: Marilyn Jensen: A Virtual Success Story
Grand Chief Peter Johnston follows up with Marilyn Jensen, the host of this year's amazing Virtual Indigenous Peoples Day, a two-hour special event held on Facebook on June 21. Organized by the Yukon First Nations Culture and Tourism Association in partnership with the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre, the event aimed to keep communities connected on a day of national celebration, and Marilyn was thrilled with the result. Marilyn also provides an update on plans to continue delivering Lateral Kindness Workshops and other important programming as people make their return to the workplace.
Photo Credit: Yukon First Nations Culture and Tourism Association / Audio Courtesy: 98.1 CHON-FM
Part III: Kate White: Voicing Our Frustrations
Grand Chief Peter Johnston welcomes Kate White, Leader of Yukon's New Democratic Party who talks about the challenges and opportunities ahead as the territory prepares to move to Phase 2. She also weighs in on the government's performance, raising concerns about a lack of transparency and accountability. When asked how she will be working in partnership the Premier to keep Yukon moving forward, White laughed, saying "I haven't heard from the Premier since March 19th, the last day of the sitting." Subsequently adding, "But I'll continue to make suggestions."
Photo Credit: CBC North / Audio Courtesy: 98.1 CHON-FM
Part IV: Colin Teramura: Carving New Life Lessons
Grand Chief Peter Johnston connects with Northern Cultural Expressions Society Educator Colin Teramura to talk about the impact of the COVID crisis on the society this year and what opportunities interested youth may have in the months ahead. With the Northern Cultural Expressions Society office closed due to the pandemic, Colin reminisces about the life lessons and sense of belonging that is part of the carving experience, and encourages youth to reach out if they are interested. He adds the society would consider personalized training solutions for new recruits as the safest way to move forward right now.
Photo Credit: Northern Cultural Expressions Society / Audio Courtesy: 98.1 CHON-FM
Part V: Chief Bill: COVID-19 Hasn't Gone Away
Grand Chief Peter Johnston welcomes Chief Doris Bill from Kwanlin Dün First Nation to the show for an update on the progress she's observed since the start of the crisis. "It's been a huge challenge, and I want to commend everyone on this tremendous effort to keep Yukoners safe." She stresses, however, that the move to Phase 2 does not mean the territory is out of the woods by any stretch of the imagination. "We have to keep in mind that COVID-19 hasn't gone away," she says, adding "This pandemic is not over until they find a vaccine." Beyond the COVID situation, Chief Bill shares her enthusiasm for the First Nation's new agreement with the RCMP. Building on an already successful Community Safety Officer program, Kwanlin Dün and the Yukon RCMP will move forward based on a letter of expectations that is intended to make the RCMP more accountable to the First Nation, an agreement that is the first of its kind in the territory.
Photo Credit: CBC North / Audio Courtesy: 98.1 CHON-FM
Part VI: Max Zimmerman: The Rights of the Child
Grand Chief Peter Johnston connects with 16-year-old Whitehorse student Max Zimmerman to talk about the Yukon Child and Youth Advocate Office (YCYAO) and Max's commitment to an amazing new project that is advocating for the rights of children and raising awareness of Canada's connection to the 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Photo Credit: CBC North / Audio Courtesy: 98.1 CHON-FM
S4E13 Playlist
Rock the Talk
S4/E13 Playlist
June 26, 2020
S4E13 Quick Links
Visit the Northern Cultural Expressions Society website:
Kwanlin Dün First Nation, RCMP pen deal to improve community policing. See the story on CBC North.
Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in
Visit the official website of the Tr'ondek Hwech'in.
Check out the new one-stop shop for COVID-19 information on the CYFN website at www.cyfn.ca
Learn more about children's rights on the Facebook page for Yukon's Child and Youth Advocate Office
Find out what's new with the Yukon New Democratic Party: www.yukonndp.ca