Yukon Family Provides Generous Donation to Peel Legal Case

A Yukon family has given the fund for the Peel Watershed legal case a huge boost.  This case was filed against the Yukon Government by the First Nation of Na Cho Nyak Dun, Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) Yukon Chapter, and the Yukon Conservation Society on January 27th.

Mike Martin and his three children Jasper, Foreste and Kestrel have made a $5300 donation to support the case.

“When I had children, I made a vow to myself that I would always strive to do what is best for them,” Martin explains. “There is a direct correlation between the health of our environment and the health of my children…all of our children.” He adds, “I believe that many moral and social violations have been committed against the people of the Yukon which threaten the future health of my children. So with the support of my family I am doing what I can for what I believe very strongly in. How could I not act? If I sit back and do nothing for what I so strongly believe in then I feel like I am committing an intergenerational injustice to my children…all our children.”

Jasper Martin, Mike’s son, is a fourth year Natural Science major at the University of Calgary.  He says, “I feel like a donation to this campaign is necessary for anyone who can afford a few extra dollars.  Obviously people don’t need to give as much as we did, but even if you can only give a few dollars it will make a difference – as clichéd as it sounds, every little bit helps.” He adds, “I really feel this legal case is important, I’m studying environmental science in school right now and I strongly believe that we need to buy some time for policy to catch up to science – we can’t keep drawing exponentially on the environment in the way the current Yukon Government business model suggests.”

Mike Martin has repeatedly tried to contact the Premier to voice about his concerns regarding the Peel Land Use Plan. “I basically felt very deceived by our current government as to the way things went down with regards to the Peel Watershed Plan,” he says, “I have called a few times and have gone to the Government building twice now to schedule a time to meet with the Premier to get his side of the story regarding the issue.  I have been waiting nine days and I have received nothing from him, his assistant, or his secretary. Not even a message to say that he is too busy. I feel his silence speaks volumes of his character and intentions.”

Gill Cracknell, Executive Director of CPAWS-Yukon, on behalf of all the parties involved in the legal case, wishes to offer heartfelt thanks to the Martin family.  “We find the Martin family’s generous donation inspiring,” says Cracknell, “It reinforces for us how much the public is behind us in this action.” 

For more information contact:

Mike Martin
867-633-6603
tundramm@hotmail.com

Jasper Martin
587-432-6360
jspr.martin@gmail.com

Amber Church
CPAWS-Yukon
867-335-4884
achurch@cpawsyukon.org