Season 5 Episode 1

Rock the Talk

SEASON 5 / EPISODE 1

EPISODE RECAP:

October 9, 2020

Season Premiere: Rock On!

Council of Yukon First Nations Grand Chief Peter Johnston is joined by Yukon Premier Sandy Silver for an update on the pandemic – our territory's progress this summer and the challenges ahead for education and the economy as Canada braces for another wave of COVID-19. Plus, the Grand Chief welcomes Graham MacDonald, a student promoting reconciliation at Pearson College in Victoria, along with the Executive Director of the Children of the Taku, K’èdukà Jack, and Melaina Sheldon, a Teslin artist recruiting storytellers for her new documentary Northlore. And last but not least, Jordi Jones, Managing Owner of Triple J's Collective and Canna Space, shares insight into how Yukon's cannabis sector is navigating the global pandemic.

RTT OCTOBER 9, 2020

Part I: The Pursuit of Intercultural Understanding

Grand Chief Peter Johnston interviews Graham MacDonald, a citizen of Champagne and Aishihik First Nations and a student proudly promoting reconciliation at Pearson College in Victoria, British Columbia. The College, named after Canadian Prime Minister and Nobel Prize Laureate Lester B. Pearson, believes in recruiting more Indigenous youth as a way to promote peace and intercultural understanding, a message that resonates with MacDonald.

0:00

Photo Credit: studentsonice.com / Audio Courtesy: 98.1 CHON-FM

RTT OCTOBER 9, 2020

Part II: Celebrating Language Revitalization

Grand Chief Peter Johnston welcomes K’èdukà Jack, Executive Director of the Children of the Taku Society, to talk about the important work under way in support of Tlingit language revitalization. Jack shares her journey and talks about the society's inspirational work with elders, teachers and learners as they develop, share and celebrate curriculum using the language of their ancestors.

0:00

Photo Credit: Yukon News / Audio Courtesy: 98.1 CHON-FM

RTT OCTOBER 9, 2020

Part III: Northlore: Calling All Storytellers (in 3D)

Grand Chief Peter Johnston connects with Melaina Sheldon, a Teslin-born actor, writer and artist. Melaina joins us for a closer look at her latest project, Northlore, a forthcoming documentary will feature Northern stories and Northern Storytellers using 3D animation.

0:00

Photo Credit: What's Up Yukon / Audio Courtesy: 98.1 CHON-FM

RTT OCTOBER 9, 2020

Part IV: Premier Silver: COVID Response Update

Grand Chief Peter Johnston welcomes Yukon Premier Sandy Silver for a look back at an unprecedented summer and a look ahead at the COVID reality Yukoners are facing this fall. The territory entered Phase 3 of the Re-Opening Plan on August 1, and with only a handful of cases (15) since the start of the pandemic, the Premier believes the numbers reflect just how strong Yukoners have been, especially since the re-opening the border with British Columbia. Now, with the Legislative Assembly back in session and an election on the horizon, the Premier is acknowledging the enormity of the challenges, but stresses the importance of working together – particularly on education and the economic recovery – to ensure Yukoners have what they need to safely navigate the fall and winter of COVID-19.

0:00

Photo Credit: Yukon News / Audio Courtesy: 98.1 CHON-FM

RTT OCTOBER 9, 2020

Part V: The Business of Cannabis Meets COVID-19

Grand Chief Peter Johnston welcomes Jordi Jones of Triple J's Canna Space in Whitehorse to talk about the opportunities and challenges ahead for cannabis sales in Yukon. It's been two years since legalization and like so many other businesses, Jones has been forced to adapt to the new COVID Reality. Jones explains how innovation, diversification and online sales will be essential to growth as the economic haze of a global pandemic lingers on.

0:00

Photo Credit: Yukon News / Audio Courtesy: 98.1 CHON-FM

S5E1 Playlist