Na Cho News and Events - First Nation of Na-Cho Nyak Dun

Na Cho News and Events
First Nation of Na Cho Nyak Dun
PO Box 220
Mayo YT Y0B 1M0
Ph: 867-996-2265
Fax: 867-996-2267
Email: main@nndfn.com
Message from the Chief
I spend a lot of time in
my office, on the phone,
looking at emails, reading
correspondence and
working on the logistics
of building and running
a government. I go to
meetings with other
leaders and discuss the
implementation of our
self government agreement
and our land claim
agreements. At home
Council and I deal with
the day to day business
of policy development
and decision making.
Sometimes it is hard to
see the forest through
the trees.
For the week of August
9 th I had the opportunity
to travel the Wind River
by canoe and show
some new friends our
traditional territory and
see the “why” of what
we do through new
eyes….and refresh my
own. We all know that
the message from the
old people is that the
land is all we have and
we are charged with
looking after it for future
generations. More
and more we political
leaders, along with our
administrative staff,
take care of the land in
a paper and digital
world. However my time
on the Wind River reminded
me again of the
need to preserve the
tranquility of the land,
the purity of the waters,
the cleanness of the air
and the spirits of our
ancestors who were
along on this trip. I
gained new inspiration,
new drive and new commitment
for the formidable
government building
task before us.
We do live between two
worlds, in one world we
protect things on paper
and in another we need
to be present on the
land to remember what
we are protecting and
why. Our lands dept has
been working with other
governments to oversee
the planning and protection
of the Wind River
area and we have joined
with TH and VG and Tetlit
Gwichin, through a
cooperation agreement,
to lobby other levels of
government for high lev-
els of protection in the
entire Peel region.
On this trip I learned that I
need to spend more time
on the land, not just that
along the highway but all
the land for which we
have stewardship. Sommer,
my 8 yr old granddaughter,
met me at the
float plane dock upon my
return. With my arm
around her shoulder I reflected
on the hope that
someday she can go out
and enjoy the peace and
tranquility of her ancestral
lands and she will remember
what I have
taught her, as my ancestors
spoke to me, so may I
speak to her.
Mussi Cho
Volume 2 Issue 3
July/Aug/Sept 2010
Special points of
interest:
Safe Departure, Canoeing
the Wind River
Floating the Loon
On Cutting Edge
Introducing Ray
Kokiw
Message from the
Chief
Social Programs Update
Inside this issue:
NND DC Update 2
Reconnecting—
rebuilding relationships
through Implementation
A Special Thank You
to NND
Social Programs
Update
Community Legacy
Update
Thank you Marie-
Louise
5
7
8
10
12

Page 2 Na Cho News and Events
CPAWS,
YCS, Full
Circle Protection
Group and
Chief
Simon Mervyn
get
ready to depart
on a
canoe trip
to the Wind
River.
Safe Departure - Canoeing the Wind River
On a clear Wednesday morning – August
11, two float planes left the
Mayo base taking eight people into
the Peel region to paddle the Wind
River for nine days. On board were
representatives from the Canadian
Parks and Wilderness Society
(CPAWS), the Yukon Conservation Society
(YCS), the Full Circle Protection
Group based in Hong Kong and Chief
Simon Mervyn of the Na-Cho Nyak
Dun.
The goal is for the groups to experience
the river together, to share their
knowledge of the region first hand
and understand what its protection
means.
At a welcome gathering the evening
before their departure, Chief Mervyn,
Council and Elders Jimmy Johnny and
Helen Buyck shared a salmon dinner
and offered the group best wishes for
a safe journey. “I‟m very happy that
Simon is taking this trip,” Elder Jimmy
Johnny said. “You will feel a lot inside
during this trip. Enjoy yourself, be yourself
and enjoy your country.”
Chief Simon spoke passionately about
the importance of the area. “Land, Air,
Water – LAW; these are precious to life
– and should be protected by law – the
area needs protection,” the Chief said.
The spirituality and tranquility of the
area are of key importance to First Nations,
the Chief emphasized, something
valued for future generations.
“I‟ve been working many years to bring
First Nations and conservation groups
together out in the wilderness; to learn
from one another,” Gladys Netro from
Old Crow said. Gladys also joined the
group on the trip; her hard work made
this trip possible.

Volume 2 Issue 3
TO ALL CITIZENS OF FIRST NATION OF NACHO NYAK DUN:
There will be a Special General Assembly to be held on October 16 th, 2010
9:30am to discuss the “LANDS ACT “.
After these discussions are closed then the General Meeting will be open
where we will continue on FNNND‟s business. An agenda will be available at
the time of the meeting.
Some business that Chief and Council have identified is the updates for the
Strategic Plan, Governance Capacity Development Plan, 1 st Quarter Financial
Statements and Community Concerns Update from June 2010 General
Assembly.
Lunch and Snacks will be served.
Please make yourself available at 9:30am to make this a successful and
productive meeting. We all need to work together to build a strong government
for our future generations.
Mussi-cho,
Beverley Blanchard, Deputy Chief
NNDDC Update
NND Development Corporation is currently in the process of restructuring
itself. We plan to develop and implement the best strategies for NND and
it’s citizens to maximize the economic opportunities that are in our Traditional
Territory, now and in the future.
There are many lessons to be learnt from the experience with Mayo “B”.
The most difficult one being that only we are responsible for the quality of
the business deals that we negotiate – and for the impact good or bad that
that deal leaves upon the First Nation. Times are changing, and many First
Nations are now succeeding in negotiating lucrative deals that include equity
ownership at minimal risk/cost with large and small corporations working
within their Traditional Territory
Therefore Dev Corp has extended invitations to select handpicked individuals
who bring business experience and expertise balanced with First Nation
concerns to NND. A quality professional team will enable to compete
effectively and efficiently within this changing economic environment.
Dev Corp has just initiated a strategic plan and resource inventory study to
be completed ASAP. At that time we will be in a position to announce all
the names of the new directors and lay out how they plan to achieve the
goals for Dev Corp.
NNDDC
Page 3
~Special
General
Assembly
to be held
on October
16th~

Introducing Ray Kokiw
April 1, 2009 my family (my
wife Anne and the dog
Aurora) and I re-located
from Mississauga, Ontario
to join my son, wife and
grandchildren who live in
Whitehorse. From April
2009 until June 2010 I was
the Manager, Human Resources
for the Ta‟an Kwach‟an
Council.
My background for the
past 30 years has been and
continues to be in Human
Resources, Administration,
Finance and IT Systems
where I have held several
management positions
ranging from Principle
Owner and President, (The
Horus Group and RAM-K
Consulting), Vice President
and General Manager,
( ASG and ITR Inc.), Manager,
Human Resources
and Administration Investment
Division, (Prudential
Assurance Canada), Rec
r u i t m e n t M a n a g e r ,
(Goodrich Landing Gear),
Human Resource Specialist,
(Head2Head, L3, Kelly
Permanent Recruitment,
Stone &Webster), including
many other companies and
organizations that have
Volume 2 Issue 3
required my consulting services.
I was born in Montreal and
my heritage is Cree, Mohawk,
French and Irish
went to Sir George Williams
University, Business
Administration, and relocated
to Toronto, completed
two years towards
an accounting designation
IRA, management courses
at McGill University and
York University along with
several certificates in various
fields.
I am please to be engaged
by FNNND in the capacity
of HR Consulting Contractor
to shore up the personnel
polices & procedures
and personnel issues.
Kent Sinnott, Franklin Patterson and Shawn Germaine put the NND welcome sign up.
Page 4
Did you
know: The
First Nation
of Na-Cho
Nyak Dun’s
Traditional
Territory
covers
162,456
square kilometers
of
land

Volume 2 Issue 3
Reconnecting – Rebuilding Relationships through Implementation
Page 5
Implementation officers with the First Nation of Na Cho Nyak Dun (NND) continue to work with the Gwitch‟in and Sahtu in
NWT on cultural renewal through transboundary negotiations.
The work is about negotiating rights in First Nation traditional territories. It is about sharing the land and resources with
Gwitch‟in and Sahtu families and neighbours. But before reciprocal sharing agreements are negotiated, it is about getting
to know each other again – reconnecting and rebuilding relationships.
In June 2009, a delegation of more than 80 Gwitch‟in and Sahtu visitors came to Mayo. NND hosted a large community
barbecue with over 300 people attending. It was a time to gather and connect to the past through ancient bloodlines.
“Last June we shared stories, drummed, danced and feasted,” said Phyllis Peter, Implementation Officer with NND. “Since
then Elders have continued to connect, and families are researching their past.”
“The 2009 gathering was about getting to know each other again,” Art Hoogland, Implementation Officer, said. “From
stronger relationships, we will learn what our priorities are and then we will work on sharing agreements.” “Non-native
people need the borders,” Art added. “But for us it is based on sharing; on how to conduct ourselves in each other‟s territory
– it is about honour and respect.”
Transboundary negotiations are about alliances being formed; collectively agreeing on potential impacts and actions.
One medium-term goal is to work on the on re-building the old trail from Lansing Post to Fort Good Hope. A longer term
concern is water protection – taking the lead on setting the highest water standards in the world.
Both Phyllis and Art agree, this is important work because this about family, NND history and home. The land, water and
resources are ties that bind First Nation people together. NND hopes to have another gathering.
“If we get nothing more out the negotiations, but we get together again,” Art said. “It will have been worth it.”

On the Cutting Edge
In July, Social Programs and the Heritage
Department of the First Nation of Na Cho
Nyäk Dun (NND) organized a one-week
knife-making course. This was the first
time NND offered this course, and its full
participation is an indicator – it was a
great success!
“This is one of the few times I‟ve seen
many of these men enjoying a course together
– laughing, having fun – and producing
beautiful tools,” Bev Genier, NND
Heritage Officer said.
Vern Swan from the Ojibwa First Nation
from Manitoba taught the course. “He‟s
a very spiritual man,” Bev said. “He
talked a lot about the roles and responsibilities
of men and women. And highlighted
how important it is for men to
treat women well.”
Elder Lena Hummel produced a beautiful
knife, though she said she had a lot of
help from her grandson, Gary Brown. “I
liked the course, it was all good, and I
would take it again,” Lena said.
Art Hoogland took the course with his
daughter; for him it was a great opportunity
to share some time together. “We
live in a small community, and like all
small communities there are political and
family issues,” Art said. “But none of that
was part of this course. Here, we were
together - trading ideas and sharing
equipment, but working individually. At
the end of the day, we are still people and
this is still home.”
For many the course gave them a sense
of accomplishment. They all started from
the same place and shared a common
bond. Community participation was also
important. Community members donated
antlers and people visited every day to
see what was going on.
The equipment – grinders, buffers, files,
safety gear, a band-saw and a drill press
were donated to the community. The
hope is to offer the basic course again and
maybe an advanced course too.
There are sign-up posters around town. We
need at least 15 committed people, so if
you are interested put your name down or
talk to the NND Social Programs and/or the
Heritage Department staff.
Bev Genier
Elder Lena Malcolm
Volume 2 Issue 3
Vern Swan and Gerry Buyck
Don Germaine and Vern Swan
Page 6
Photos
of the
knife
makers
and
their
creations

Page 7 Volume 2 Issue 3
Art and Heidi Hoogland Gerry Buyck Stewart Moses
Andy Lucas Ronald Peter
Jack Mclean
A Special Thank-you to NND
As you know, we recently paddled the Wind River
and part of the Peel River with Chief Simon. Our trip
took us through a wonderful part of NND‟s Traditional
Territory where the spirits of those who have
traveled and lived in the Peel watershed can still be
felt. This made the words of Chief Mervyn all the
more powerful to us as he echoed the thoughts of
many NND elders and citizens while we sat around
the campfires – the importance of keeping the land,
water, and air, all of it, in the condition it was when
it was passed down. He spoke to the strength we all
have in working together to save the Peel watershed.
To protect it not only for ourselves, but for our
grandchildren. For everyone‟s grandchildren.
May the healing properties of the watershed endure
forever! The Peel watershed is so beautiful and varied
it is hard to describe – everyone needs to go
there to see the wild mountains, the beautiful rivers
& streams, and the sustaining life that is all around.
The air is all fresh, and every place smells different
than the last.
Garry Brown
As Elder Jimmy Johnny said at the celebration before
we left, “You will feel a lot inside during this trip.
Enjoy yourself, be yourself and enjoy our country.”
His words and advice couldn‟t have been more true.
We want to thank NND both for the celebration before
we left on our trip and also for the wonderful
„welcome back‟ dinner! We all felt privileged to be in
NND‟s traditional territory with your Chief and to be
honored at both ends of the trip by the wonderful
people of Nacho Nyak Dun. Sharing our experiences
with you made it all the more meaningful for us.
The Peel watershed is a place to find solitude, it is a
place to share community with friends, it is a place
to rest and heal, and it is a place to work together to
protect forever.
Mike & Karen
Elder Jimmy Lucas
Blaine Peter
Tera Melancon William Patterson Frank Hutton
Mike Dehn Karen Baltgailis
Executive Director,
CPAWS-Yukon
Executive Director, Yukon
Conservation Society

Page 8
Na Cho News and Events
Social Programs Update
With the winter approaching
we are hoping to get more
p r o g r a m s h a p p e n i n g
throughout the week. We
helped fund with Heritage
department the knife making
workshop and we extremely
pleased with the amount of
interested people, as well as
the magnificent quality of
the knives produced. We are
hoping to bring Vern up again
to do a follow-up on this
course later in the fall, perhaps
to coincide with the
men‟s retreat we are planning.
We are still looking for someone
to plan a women‟s and
men‟s retreat based workshop,
as well as someone to
take care of elder‟s wood and
chimney cleaning this
year. Please check out the
job ad‟s around town and put
your name forth.
We are still writing funding
proposals to get money in
order to renovate the old
NND Government administration
building, and have been
appealing to the mining companies
to help with some of
the operational costs to
again open this building.
Sandy Washburn
Community Resource Officer
Some changes that will be
happening within my position
as the Health Promotion
Trainee I will be working on
the Women‟s and Men‟s retreat
happening late fall/
early winter 2010. The retreat
will be held at Ethel
Lake to educate on violence,
drugs and alcohol. The retreat
will have a number of
professional facilitators to
come and do a number of
workshops with the men and
women. I have asked Myra
Shilleto to come and address
the concern of the drug ecstasy
in November 2010. She
will be putting on a workshop
for the youth at the JVC
school ,parents and the community
are invited to attend
and a session for NND staff
members. I will also be working
on the Youth “Scared
Straight” five day workshop
this winter. Lee Mason from
the Young Warriors Network
will come and present this
workshop during the School
spring break in March 2011.
Tera Melancon
Health Promotion Trainee
I recently met with Chief and
Council to make some
changes to the SA policy. The
changes were as follows:
The furniture allowance is no
longer confined to the 4
items (washer, fridge, stove
and bed). It has been
changed to a set amount per
every 2years which gives the
freedom to purchase things
like kitchen tables, couches
and so on.
The eligibility for supplementary
needs has been changed
from 3 to 6 months. A client
must be on Social Assistance
for 6 months consecutively in
order to be eligible for supplementary
needs.
If a client is offered a job and
refuses they will be considered
ineligible for social assistance
for one full month.
For a client who is in a treatment
center, what we used
to provide is rent and utilities
payment, the client did not
receive any money. They are
now eligible to receive incidental
and clothing allowance
which would equal to
$130.00 per month for a single
client.
The National Child Benefit
Supplement is now being
deducted as an earned income.
*Also I have made the
change to have clients coming
to the new government
house rather than meeting at
the old NND Government
building downtown. This allows
me to access to client
files and the computer in
order to verify information
while meeting with each client.
Karla Olsen
Social Programs Administrator

Floating the Loon
It‟s a labour of love and
promises to be a thing of
unique beauty. The restoration
of The Loon is a
boat builder‟s dream and a
formidable challenge. The
work requires patience
and craftsmanship.
The loon is a small vessel,
only 55‟; designed with a
tunnel hull and an extremely
low draft. It was
built to float in only eight
inches of water, yet it can
push a barge, carry 25
people or several tons of
freight.
The boat belongs to the
Silver Trail Association
and, in exchange for labour,
the First Nation of
Na Cho Nyak Dun (NND)
can charter the vessel free
of charge. NND hopes to
use it to charter passengers
to the Old Village.
Edwin Peter has been
working on the project for
two seasons. His father
once built river boats and
he finds the work on The
Loon a challenge. “You
have to be very careful
working with the original,
old pieces,” Edwin said.
“I‟m learning a lot and I
like the work – I sure hope
it floats,” he said with a
smile.
The project began in earnest
four seasons ago, and
Marc Johnson, the project
manager, expects it to be
completed in two more
years. This is an historic
restoration, which means
they are following the
original design and using
as much of the original
parts as possible, includ-
ing the original engine.
The Loon was one of the
very first jet boats and
was designed by the White
Pass and Yukon Railway
Company in the early
1900s. Marc points out
that it being a jet boat
doesn‟t mean The Loon is
fast – it means it has a
particular jet engine.
The boat was abandoned
on the Whitehorse waterfront,
donated to Parks
Canada and then given to
Marc Johnson. Marc has a
lot experience and a deep
passion for restoring old
boats. He restored the
Yukon Rose, which is now
floating on the river in
Dawson.
Marc is proud of the work
done by his crew, pointing
out the intricate placement
of new and old
planks and the smooth,
meticulous sanding-work
of the labourers. “This
work is good; it would im-
Volume 2 Issue 3 Page 9
press even highly experienced
boat builders.”
The community has also
pitched in; a citizen of Na
Cho Nyak Dun salvaged
the oak railings from the
demolition of the old J. V.
Clarke School. “He knew
they would come in handy
during this restoration,”
Marc said. “And they will,
so he gave them to us.”
Restoration work continues
this season until October.
Next summer the
crew will float The Loon in
a deep trench of water, let
the wood absorb as much
water as possible and
then make whatever adjustments
are necessary.
If you are interested in
working on the project,
come to the old NND administration
building at
8:30 on Monday mornings
to join the crew.
Edwin Peter
and Mark
Johnson
posing with
the Loon.

Page 10
“we
plan to
hold a
communitymeeting
on
Sept
28th”
Na Cho News and Events
Community Legacy Project Update
Hi, my name is Ed
Champion and I am
the Grandson of
Jack & Mary
McDiarmid. I have
come back to the
land where I was
born, and have
been in Mayo over
the last few months
involved in the
Mayo “B” project as
the subcontract coordinator
for NND.
As most of you may
have heard, I have
proposed - and
Chief & Council
have supported the
proposal of developing
an action/
feasibility plan to
construct a new
“Community Legacy
Building” in Mayo
that will benefit
everyone in some
way.
The building committee
consisting of
6 well known local
citizens has met a
number of times
over the summer to
identify and prioritize
the community
needs that could be
included in the new
building. We are in
the process of com-
pleting a feasibility
study to construct a
3 story building
downtown that will
contain a new store
as well as other
uses for the benefit
of the community
on the 1 st floor. The
2 nd floor is mainly
office space, and
the 3 rd has residential
space.
This new building
will only work with
t h e g e n e r o u s
“involvement” of
Kiewit/YEC and the
mining companies
in the area who are
benefiting from our
natural resources.
We trust these
companies will
prove to be good
corporate citizens
who will contribute
to this significant
legacy project de-
signed to last well
beyond the expiration
of their projects.
NNDDC will take
the lead on this
project - if the decision
is made to go
ahead with the project
based on community
support and
enough financial
support being generated.
We plan to hold a
community meeting
on Sept 28 @ 7pm
at the Curling Club
to share our ideas
with the people and
to get your feedback.
Please call me @
867.335.3989 if
you have any questions.
Ed

NNDFN Environmental Monitor Training Program
This summer, NNDFN
Lands and Resources
Department, in collaboration
with NND Education
Department had the
opportunity to offer an
Environmental Monitor
Training Program (EMTP)
for NND citizens. This
training was run through
the Mayo Campus of the
Yukon College. The 7
week program is designed
by the BEAHR
(Building Environmental
Aboriginal Human Resources)
institute and
was instructed by
Stephen Biggin-pound.
The course is designed
to introduce students to
environmental monitoring.
Graduates receive a
completion certificate. 9
students took the
course. This is a positive
stepping stone towards a
greater involvement of
NNDFN into the various
projects taking place in
their Traditional Territory.
During the first four
weeks of the program
students focused on: environmental
impacts,
rules and regulations,
introduction to environmental
sciences, data
collection techniques.
The EMTP incorporates
the use of traditional
knowledge into the curriculum;
a good portion
of the course was spent
in the field.
This summer, students
were able to participate
in many important studies
occurring in the Mayo
area. One of the studies
was a Keno Valley
stream assessments survey,
looking at streams
in the Keno Valley that
are potentially affected
by mining in the area.
This project was lead by
Bonnie Burns and Nick
De Graff.
EMPT students learned
about stream surveying.
At each stream, the
group looked at: benthic
invertebrates, sediment,
vegetation, water chemistry,
water flow, and
fish. This information is
then compared to the
data collected from a
natural untouched
stream of similar size
and ecosystem setting to
determine the impact of
mining on the tested
stream. The streams surveyed
were: Chrystal
Creek, Lightning Creek,
Williams Creek, and Duncan
Creek. Other activities
included:, ecological
monitoring, site tours at
the Elsa and Keno Mine
site, stream and habitat
restoration walks and
discussions, hands on
experience at Robert
Hager‟s Fish Camp and
Fraser Falls fish camp,
learning about culture
and subsistence in the
traditional environment
with the guidance of Elders
Bernice Catcheside,
Jimmy Lucas and a crew
of dedicated helpers
from NND.
Volume 2 Issue 3
NND hopes to see these
students carry on into
this field of study and
become stewards of
their Traditional Territory.
Thank you to everyone
who contributed in involving
the EMTP student
into the various
field work which occurred
this summer and
to everyone who helped
in making this program
available for NND.
Mussi Cho! / Thank You!
If you have any questions
about the reclamation at
Keno Hill Property or if
you have any knowledge
you wish to share with
us, please feel free to
contact the mining reclamation
coordinator for
Na-Cho Nyak Dun First
Nation, 996-2265 Extension
134, or miningreclamation@nndfn.com
and
we will direct you to the
appropriate program person.
Submitted by Josee
Lemieux-Tremblay.
Page 11
Shelley Buyck and Marshall Buyck at the new
Alexco Mill on August 4, 2010.
NND Elder Jimmy Lucas with EMTP
students Dana Hager and Shelley
Buyck at Fraser Falls Fish Camp on
August 7, 2010.
EMTP students at the Husky site
near Elsa on August 4, 2010.
EMTP students looking at streams
in the Keno Valley that are potentially
affected by mining in the area.
This project was lead by Bonnie
Burns and Nick De Graff in July.

First Nation of Na Cho Nyak Dun
PO Box 220
Mayo YT Y0B 1M0
Ph: 867-996-2265
Fax: 867-996-2267
Email: main@nndfn.com
Website: www.nndfn.com
Big River People
W E’ RE ON THE WEB
WWW. NNDFN. COM
THANK YOU!!
Many thanks to Marie-Louise Boylan
from the INAC Communications Department
in Whitehorse for coming to
Mayo for a week in August and helping
us identify many of the stories we
have told in this issue of the newsletter.
She made our “every day” come
alive in words and we are happy to
share her writing with you.
Nacho News
Page 12
Once again if there are any questions, comments
or suggestions about the newsletter or if you
want an electronic copy please email me at
nyoung@nndfn.com.