Acho Dene Koe First Nation is currently discussing various agreements with the Yukon government, including the possibilities of a Land and Comprehensive Claim (Modern Treaty). At present, neither the Chief and Council for Acho Dene Koe First Nation nor the Yukon government have passed a mandate.

The current aim is to be recognized with Rights and Title in the Yukon.

There is also an interest in having management authority over lands and resources in the southwest region of the Yukon. A Framework Agreement will be explored, which will include sharing resource revenues from activities undertaken on those lands. Negotiations have included preliminary discussions about health and education for members residing in the Yukon.

The goal is to secure an agreement that is constitutionally protected, like the agreements reached by other First Nations in the Yukon under the Yukon-First Nations Umbrella Final Agreement. Achieving a final agreement that is a constitutionally protected modern-day treaty is important as it will define First Nations rights on Settlement Lands within Traditional Territory.

Under modern treaty negotiations, several matters are being addressed, including heritage, fish and wildlife, non-renewable resources, water management, forestry, taxation, financial compensation, economic development measures, and land ownership and management by the First Nation.

It is expected that there will be a self-government agreement, though the content remains undecided.

Each land claims agreement is accompanied by a self-government agreement that grants First Nations the right to enact legislation in several areas. These agreements provide First Nations with the power to control and direct their own affairs and outline the ability of a First Nation to assume responsibility for delivering programs or services to its citizens. 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.

For detailed information regarding negotiations in Yukon, including the members involved from Yukon and Acho Dene Koe First Nation, as well as recent meeting notes and scheduled dates for upcoming main table meetings, please refer to our newsletters for publicly available details.