Executive Council Office

Capacity Development Conference

Yukon Government and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada co-hosted the Capacity Conference – "Moving Forward" in Whitehorse, Yukon on Feb 24 – 26, 2009. It was funded through the Northern Strategy Trust and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada.

Objectives of the conference were:

  • to share information and network on the topic of capacity development within First Nations;
  • to provide an awareness of various approaches to capacity development; and
  • to support Yukon First Nations in moving forward with governance.

Conference participants included representatives from across self-governing and non-self-governing First Nations, federal and territorial governments, non-government organizations and consultant firms.

Conference program included a workshop on comprehensive community planning as a best practice of good governance, sharing circles that enabled delegates to share challenges, successes and brainstorm solutions and numerous presentations on capacity development initiatives being undertaken by First Nation, federal and territorial governments.

2009 Capacity Conference – Moving Forward topics included:

  • Overview of the work of the Institute of Public Administration of Canada (IPAC)
  • Capacity Development within Yukon First Nation Land and Resource Departments
  • Comprehensive community planning
  • Overview of the Little Salmon/Carmacks Community Greenhouse Garden
  • Yukon College First Nation Initiatives
  • Overview of the Canadian Executive Service Organization (CESO)
  • Sharing Circles: Challenges and Successes of First Nation Governance
  • Executive Development Pilot Program
  • Administration of Vuntut Gwitchin Government – Building Government as a Profession
  • Na-cho Nyak Dun First Nation's Co-operative Agreement for Proposed Economic Activity in Traditional Territory
  • Selkirk First Nation Traditional Knowledge/Dooli Research
  • Overview of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and Yukon Government funding opportunities