Yukon First Nations renew firefighting partnerships with territory for wildfire season

June 15, 2023, Yukon – The Government of Yukon and Yukon First Nations have renewed three-year agreements for managing wildfire in the territory. These agreements outline hiring procedures for initial attack firefighters across the territory.

One of the agreements encompasses a new Initial Attack Crew Administration arrangement between the Government of Yukon and the Carcross/Tagish First Nation. Starting this year, Carcross/Tagish First Nation citizens hired under this model can become seasonal Yukon government employees. This is in addition to 12 Initial Attack Crew Services agreements with other Yukon First Nations.

Several models for wildfire response are in place across the Yukon depending on the preference of First Nations governments for direct hiring of wildland firefighters or delegating administration to others.

While some First Nations hire crew members directly through development corporations, others delegate contracts to Yukon First Nations Wildfire. These contracted employees are trained and integrated on a yearly basis into the territorial Wildland Fire Management organization.

“Yukon First Nations have a long history of working with local fire management agencies that predates devolution. Through government-to-government agreements, we are supporting economic opportunities for First Nations governments in wildfire management while also contributing to the Yukon’s proactive efforts to manage wildfires,” said Richard Mostyn, Yukon’s minister of community services in a press release.