News

YukonU First Nation students have embarked on a healing journey through Indigenous arts, and the next stop is an exchange with the Sámi people of Norway and Finland. This exchange involves the sharing of traditional skills between two Indigenous cultures who seek to protect and revitalize their Traditional Knowledge and maintain their languages.

Over the past three years, the YukonU community campus in Mayo, Yukon, developed a series of Indigenous arts programs in response to the trauma and grief that students were facing in the community. It began with a hide-tanning workshop in partnership with the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyäk Dun, which led to a Yukon First Nations Arts program, and then garment-making and sewing programs that involved students sharing their creations in a community fashion show.

60th anniversary logoYukonU is celebrating its 60th anniversary, and we are looking for memories and stories to help us reflect back on six decades of educational experiences shaped right here in the North.  

“We are a university rooted in vision and opportunity," says Dr. Lesley Brown, President and Vice-Chancellor, Yukon University. “From the very beginning, students have gained exciting career and education training to meet the demands of a growing North.” 

WHITEHORSE—Yukon University now has a Research Chair in Northern Governance thanks to a one million dollar donation from Northern Vision Development LP (NVD). This generous gift will help support this position for 10 years.

The University announced Dr. Rebecca Major as the inaugural Research Chair at a special ceremony held this morning at YukonU. Major is a Métis scholar who achieved her PhD in Public Policy from the University of Saskatchewan in 2020, she is an Associate Professor in the departments of Political Science and Philosophy at the University of Windsor.

“As a majority First Nation-owned company, NVD looks forward to Dr. Major’s work and the preservation and growth of knowledge in northern governance, including the leadership that First Nation and Indigenous communities have and will continue to play across the territory” says Rich Thompson, Chairman of the Northern Vision Development Board of Directors

To our community,

Today our hearts break with the affirmation of the deaths of First Nations children, and the identification of potential burial sites, near the former Chooutla Indian Residential School.  This announcement confirms another appalling truth of about the treatment of First Nations children. It is a truth we cannot turn away from if we are to walk with integrity on our journey of reconciliation.

So today we come together, in grief and love, to honour the lives of these children and to hold up Survivors, their families and communities.

Going forward, we must never forget the injustice and cruelty that allowed these children to die alone far from home. We must choose to create a future where every child matters. This means not only having the right intentions, but also being prepared to follow through with right actions.

At Yukon University, we stand together, in grief and sorrow with Residential School Survivors, their families and communities, to condemn the practices of genocide, racism, discrimination and hatred.

We commit to our own learning and unlearning journey to understand the legacy of residential schools and on-going trauma experienced by Survivors and their families, so that we will never again stand for the practice of taking children from loving homes, families and communities, stripping children of their languages, their heritage, their dignity, their rights and exposing them to violence in their learning environments.

Sincerely,

Dr. Lesley Brown
President & Vice-Chancellor
Yukon University

Gä̀gala-ƛ̓iƛ̓ətko (Nadia Joe)
Associate Vice-President, Reconciliation
Yukon University

WHITEHORSE, YT— The Mastercard Foundation is expanding its partnership with Yukon University (YukonU) to continue to transform education and support Indigenous youth success in the Yukon through the EleV (“ell-uh-VEE") Program.

Yukon University is pleased to announce that Aisha Montgomery has been appointed as Associate Vice-President, University Relations.

Montgomery has called the Yukon home for more than 20 years, raising her family here and contributing to countless initiatives in the territory through senior roles with the Government of Yukon. As Director of Communications and more recently Director of Policy with the Government of Yukon, she has developed strong relationships with municipalities, First Nation governments, the federal government and many other stakeholders across the territory to bring about significant impact on the everyday lives of Yukoners—from midwifery legislation, territorial land development, emergency response and more.

As Associate Vice-President, University Relations for YukonU, Montgomery will oversee government relations, development, marketing and communications, and alumni engagement.

Yukon University has appointed Dr. Fiona Schmiegelow as the new Dean of Applied Science and Management for a five-year term.  

Fiona is a renowned scholar in wildlife and conservation science, and a recognized leader in landscape sustainability, who has lived in the Yukon for almost 20 years. She has directed the partnered Bachelor of Environmental and Conservation Science program hosted at YukonU, as a professor with the University of Alberta, and retains her position as senior professor during her term as Dean with YukonU. 

A sampling of Yukon University research can be found in 55 locations throughout the territory and across Northern Canada with the new Research Activity Map.

YukonU’s Research Chair in Health has released results on the Impacts of COVID-19 on Yukon’s frontline healthcare workers. This study found high burnout rates, a desire to be involved in future planning for pandemics or health emergencies, and other key findings unique to the Yukon. 

Yukon University welcomes Erin McMichael to the role of Registrar and Associate Vice President, Student Life.

McMichael joins YukonU from the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Arts & Science where she has held the role of Associate Faculty Registrar and Director, Student Affairs since 2016. 

To our community,

I write in recognition of the atrocious events that took place on June 28th at the University of Waterloo, where three members of the UW community were violently attacked in acts that targeted gender-expression and identity. Yukon University stands united with the University of Waterloo and the members of its community as they cope with the shocking tragedy of these hate-filled attacks on their campus.

The targeted nature of these attacks and their occurrence during Pride Month deepens their severity. A place of education should be a place that is free of hate. Yukon University does not condone any form of violence, hatred or bigotry and will continue to proudly advocate justice, inclusion, diversity and equality.

If you need support during this time, please see the list of resources below.

We extend our deepest sympathies to all who have been affected by this hateful act.