Honourable senators, respectfully and with gratitude, I live and speak to you from the traditional territory of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and the Ta’an Kwäch’än Council.

Colleagues, on December 10 I was honoured to attend a signing ceremony at the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre. This is the same site where the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls began their hearings. For those of you who are not aware, the cultural centre sits on the banks of the Yukon River and has a location for sacred fire. The signing ceremony began with a prayer at the sacred fire and remembrance of the missing and those who have gone on.

The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls published on June 3 last year had 231 recommendations. With the signing ceremony I attended, the Yukon is the first of the provinces and territories to give life and meaning to prepare a strategy to address the recommendations. Senators will know that I don’t give my signature lightly. The signing ceremony was the declaration of my commitment to the Yukon strategy. That commitment reads:

Together, and as an individual, I am committed to do my part to take action for the implementation of Changing the Story to Upholding Dignity and Justice: Yukon’s MMIWG2S+ Strategy, and initiatives that contribute to the vision set out in the Strategy. . . .

I commit to be accountable to families, survivors, other partners, contributors, and Yukoners for implementation of this Strategy.

The declaration was read aloud and signed by me; the member of Parliament; ministers Bennett and Monsef of the Canadian government; Yukon’s premier; ministers of the Yukon government; all party representatives in the Yukon Legislative Assembly; the grand chief of the Council of Yukon First Nations; all 14 First Nations chiefs in the Yukon; all municipalities; and the RCMP, the only police service in the Yukon.

It was an incredibly moving and positive ceremony. Colleagues, I give thanks to have been included. I am also incredibly encouraged by the work that has gone into the creation of this strategy, because the key concept throughout the process has been partnership.

The heart of the strategy, which is as much a vision statement as a practical plan, includes 31 priority actions under these four paths and takes a Yukon approach encouraging all Yukoners to see themselves as part of the solution.

I would like to share with you comments made by Chief Doris Bill of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation. She said, in part:

All of the advocates, family members, and survivors that have fought so hard for so long should see today as an important step forward in restoring dignity and justice for Indigenous women, girls and Two-spirit+ people.

Doris Bill went on:

The government should not lead all actions. We will develop plan with partners, and there is much work ahead. Alone, the burden would feel heavy. But if we each carry something, it will feel lighter.

Colleagues, now is a traditional time when we look forward to lighter and brighter days ahead, as we do with the launch of this strategy and by signing on to this strategy. Thank you for the opportunity to present it to you today. I will share this document with you by mail in the future. Thank you. Mahsi’cho. Gùnáłchîsh