Partners
WE ARE STRONGER TOGETHER
YFNW was founded in 2018 to advocate for wage equity amongst Yukon firefighting crews and better access to training for Indigenous firefighters. In 2019 we won the Aurora Prize for northern innovation and excellence.
By incorporating the four pillars of financial literacy, diversity training, traditional land-based healing, and traditional land management into all our training programs, YFNW is forging the future leaders of the Yukon.
Our Beat the Heat bootcamp has trained and certified more than 250 wildland firefighters and our Warrior Program, teaching employment skills to Yukon youth, has over 50 graduates. To date we have nine Initial Attack wildfire crews in seven Yukon communities, and one 20-person Skookum Unit Crew
By investing in Yukon youth we are not just supporting individuals, we are building the capacity for resilience in Yukon communities.
YFNW is a dynamic and growing emergency relief organization that will continue protecting our land and the people on it. The Yukon’s future is bright, and we will be there.
For more information please contact admin@yfnw.ca
• Observing a need for unification amongst First Nation wildland firefighting crews, Da Daghay Development Corporation’s (DDDC) Initial Attack Charlie Crew and DDDC’s administrator envision a partnership with all Yukon First Nations.
• DDDC and Charlie Crew provide administrative and operational support for two other First Nation Initial Attack crews.
• The idea is hatched to create a local, Indigenous-led Unit Crew program -- to train, manage, and deploy a Yukon Unit Crew for wildfire and flood response.
• YFNW is founded by wildland firefighters and Indigenous business leaders. It has nine First Nation partners.
• The Unit Crew program is created and the Skookum Unit Crew is founded. It is the Yukon’s first First Nations Sustained Action Unit Crew.
• The Bonanza Unit Crew is founded, becoming the Yukon’s second crew.
• The Skookum Unit Crew is deployed to British Columbia for wildfire response.
• In partnership with the Yukon Government, the Warrior Program is created. It bridges the gap between Yukon youth (age 16-30) and local business by facilitating connections and providing employment skills training.
Original artwork by Tlingit artist Blake Nelson Shaá'koon Lepine
• YFNW expands its operations with a fleet of trucks for emergency management service delivery.
• Funding is secured to deliver the Beat the Heat Training Program in communities across the Yukon and British Columbia.
Stats
Awards & Achievements
Yukon Laureate winners of the Artic Inspiration Prize in 2019
The Arctic Inspiration Prize is by the North and for the North and is a community of people and groups, including Indigenous organizations, academia, governments, non-governmental organizations, industry, philanthropy, media and arts and culture organizations, who share a common goal: to recognize northern innovation and excellence and encourage teamwork for the betterment of life in Canada’s North.
Partners
Funders
