Our Stories
Travelling in the Yukon? Be a respectful guest
The Yukon’s lands and waters are also the traditional territories of 14 Yukon First Nations, the Inuvialuit, and transboundary First Nations in British Columbia, Northwest Territories, and Alaska. Guests travelling anywhere in the Yukon are visiting the traditional territories of a First Nation. In visiting these areas, you are taking on a responsibility and duty to show respect and gratitude for its stewards, as well as the land, water, and animals. [Learn more]
Stony Creek, More Valuable Than Gold
Would you want someone mucking around for gold in the water that you and your family drink? Many residents of Mendenhall have said they most certainly do not. CPAWS Yukon stands alongside members of Champagne and Aishihik First Nations and Kwanlin Dün First Nation, along with other residents of Mendenhall who have recently expressed deep concern around a proposed placer mining project at Stony Creek. [Learn more]
Mining in Whitehorse: Speaking out and wading through potential futures
Mining is intertwined with Whitehorse’s past, but should it be part of its future? At City Council’s March 11th public hearing on mining in Whitehorse, the large majority of people who spoke said “No.” Standing with my notes in hand, I reflected on the escalating risks and damages mining brings and how important it is for people to have a strong say in the future of Whitehorse, one where the well-being of residents and housing needs are prioritized. [Learn more]
Moments from Mayo to Moosehide
Happy World Water Day! For decades CPAWS Yukon has organized or helped organize and guide on the land trips into different areas. These kinds of trips not only give youth life-changing skills and experiences, but also the agency and confidence to speak up for the land, water, and wildlife. [Learn more]
Roots at Risk: A walk through Chasàn Chùa
On a sunny day nestled in a week of July rain, we came together in Chasàn Chùa/McIntyre Creek to join Plants of the Boreal, a walk and talk series that connects people, place, and plants. As we walked down to the creek through the forest, we learned that many of Yukon’s native plants know the history of the short spring and summer seasons in the territory, having evolved to flower early in the season and form fruits and seeds by late summer. [Learn more]
Standing at the Intersection of Conservation and Food Security
In the Yukon, we’re grappling with a stark reality – we’re the third most food insecure place in Canada. Environmental factors such as climate change, loss of biodiversity, and sustainable community infrastructure are things we talk about in conservation, but they also affect the food systems that support all Yukoners, regardless of culture or community. [Learn more]
2023: Our Year in Review
Another amazing year has come and gone! We started with the exciting news of the Canada-Yukon Nature Agreement, formalizing the Yukon government’s commitment to protect 25% of the territory’s land and water by 2025. This is just beginning, and we think there’s still so much opportunity to continue the momentum that we’re building. [Learn more]
Seeing With Our Own Eyes: Gladiator Metals Copper Claims around the City of Whitehorse
Sitting behind the wheel of his well-traveled red pickup truck, Sandy Johnston drove us along rough backroads, passing piles of copper-laced blue waste rock, leftovers from the long history of copper mining in this area. A history that is starting to repeat itself. [Learn more]
Where We Stand on the Arctic Refuge and What You Can Do
Written by Laurence Fox, Campaigns Coordinator | October 25, 2023A shortened version of this post appeared in the Wednesday, October 18th, 2023 edition of the Yukon News. The cancellation of the remaining leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge this past September was, and is, wonderful news for the Porcupine Caribou, the Gwich’in which have worked tirelessly [Learn more]
How Conservation and Reconciliation are linked
The National Day of Truth and Reconciliation is nearing. My thoughts about what it means are rising and falling to the sound of waves, and the smell of the Pacific rainforest – from Tla-o-qui-aht lands and waters, or ha-houlth-ee in the Nuu-chah-nulth language. Most folks are familiar with this area as Tofino, or Clayquot Sound.
The reason that this area has clean waters and healthy rainforests is because of the vision, courage, and determination of the Tla-O-Qui-Aht First Nation. [Learn more]
Leases Have Been Canceled In The Arctic Refuge–Now What?
The recent lease cancellations in the Arctic Refuge are reason to celebrate, but the fight is far from over. Unless something dramatically changes–and fast– it’s not a matter of if another lease sale will be held, but when. [Learn more]
Connecting to the Land Through Plants
Northern Tutchone youth gathered to learn about native plants and reclamation on their traditional territories. Native plant reclamation is not only a phase of a project or development but an essential and empowering part of the healing process on the land and within the community. [Learn more]