FIRST NATIONS
Yukon First Nations’ ground-breaking land claim and self-government process has led to modern treaties and governance within the territory and has acted as a model for Indigenous communities around the world.
The Yukon’s fourteen First Nations bring exceptional knowledge and perspectives to innovative endeavours on both Settlement Land and broader Traditional Territories. Yukon First Nations and transboundary First Nations are an integral partner in business and innovation, helping to drive research, development and entrepreneurship in the Yukon.
Innovation Yukon: Bringing Northern Ingenuity to the World
NationTalk: The Yukon has long been a place of innovation, creativity and the pursuit of solutions and new ways of doing things. The Government of Yukon is following in this path laid by generations of Yukon leaders and thinkers, releasing a five-year strategy that will shape how the government supports and enables innovative practices across the territory.
Building off consultation with stakeholders, including First Nations, industry professionals and members of the public, the Yukon’s new innovation strategy, titled Innovation Yukon: Bringing Northern Ingenuity to the World, was debuted at Yukonstruct’s Hall of Innovators Award Gala on November 9, as part of Yukon Innovation Week.
Innovation Yukon: Bringing Northern Ingenuity to the World outlines the Yukon’s unique strengths and opportunities including Indigenous governance, rural and place-based entrepreneurship, Arctic research and exceptional lifestyle and community. It identifies actions, programs and services that will help to grow innovation and technology use in industries throughout the Yukon.
The strategy details 24 key actions that the Yukon government will implement to advance and diversify the Yukon’s economy over the next five years. Implementing these will require close, ongoing collaboration with community stakeholders and ecosystem partners.
Completing a Yukon innovation strategy to guide the Government of Yukon’s work in creating opportunities for local entrepreneurs is one of Premier and Minister of Economic Development Ranj Pillai’s mandate letter commitments.
The Government of Yukon will continue to support innovation sector organizations as they drive progress, introduce creative solutions to the unique challenges of life in the North, grow the reputation of the Yukon as a viable investment location, create job and investment opportunities for Yukoners and further develop a collaborative innovation ecosystem that is responsive to industry needs.
Being able to adapt and improve is key to staying competitive and remaining relevant in a constantly evolving world. I would like to extend my appreciation to the individuals and organizations that worked with us to develop this innovation strategy. Your efforts have shaped our path forward for the coming years. Together, we will position the Yukon for incredible opportunities, guiding us toward a stronger, more diverse economy.
Premier and Minister of Economic Development Ranj Pillai
As Yukonstruct ushers in its fourth Yukon Innovation Week, we are pleased to host the Government of Yukon’s announcement of the new Innovation Strategy at this year’s Hall of Innovator Awards Gala on November 9. The Yukon Territory has been known since time immemorial as a place of innovation and inspiration, and as we look towards the future, we will not only continue maximizing local support for innovators but will also remain persistent in attracting talent to the North. We look forward to enhanced collaboration amongst the entrepreneurial ecosystem partners and continuing to broaden Yukon’s economic development. As a community organization, we take great pride in contributing to economic resiliency, reconciliation, and expansion in a sustainable way and look to this new strategy to continue building capacity and progress.
Yukonstruct executive director Shayna Hammer
Quick facts
- This five-year strategy will serve as the government’s road map to help grow the Yukon’s innovation sector, drive investment and diversify the economy.
- Public engagement on the how the government can support innovation in the Yukon was conducted with partners and stakeholders to help inform the strategy.
- An Innovation Commission was established to provide advice on the development of the strategy. The commission was made up of members with experience and interest in innovation, technology and entrepreneurship in the Yukon and across the world.
- The strategy was developed with the help of the Innovation Commission members and Yukoners who participated during the public engagement period.
- In addition to the work of the Innovation Commission, over 50 stakeholders from 13 sectors participated in focus groups and an online survey was published.
Media contact
Renée Francoeur
Cabinet Communications
867-334-9194
renee.francoeur@yukon.ca
Saskrita Shrestha
Communications, Economic Development
867-471-3020
saskrita.shrestha@yukon.ca
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