A Mandate for Council
September 2024
I am humbled to be serving as Chief of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation. This mandate letter will serve to outline key priorities and responsibility of our Council.
As Council, we are responsible for preserving the peace, unity and culture of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation for the well-being of our people, and providing good, effective, and accountable government.
We will strive for the effective management, administration and exercise of the rights and benefits of our Nation as secured by the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation Final Agreement and in accordance with our Self Government Agreement.
As Council, we will:
- provide leadership to our Nation by setting our strategic objectives, with consideration of the direction provided by the General Assembly, the Elders Council and our Youth;
- provide guidance to our administration through the Executive Director and Director of Finance, respecting the importance of separation between politics and public service; and
- speak with one voice when final decisions have been made by Council.
Our Council has an ambitious vision for the future of our citizens. A future that celebrates our traditions, language and culture; supports local housing needs; ensures access to mental health and addictions services; and drives a vibrant regional economy. It is our goal to see all our citizens, and our community, thrive and succeed.
From the start, our Council has prioritized the safety and wellness of our community and balancing the budget of our government. While addressing the ongoing substance use crisis must remain our focus, we must also continue to support the other branches of our government, progress the development and implementation of new legislation and set clear policies for the administration.
As Chief, in addition to our collective objectives, I will focus on the portfolios of Executive Office, Finance and Health and Social Services.
I will also be committed to providing guidance to the Executive Director and the Director of Finance in support of our administration achieving the following:
- Implementation and Negotiations
- Negotiating a new Financial Transfer Agreement.
- Intergovernmental
- Finalizing a 10-year Accord with the Government of Yukon.
- Strengthening relationships with Yukon First Nations and increasing collaborating with North Yukon First Nations in accordance with the North Yukon First Nation Accord.
- Community Wellness and Safety
- Addressing the Substance Use Health Emergency through reducing the supply of drug trafficking and bootlegging and through supporting Citizens in accessing treatment.
- Increasing safety of the community.
- Supporting the Yukon Residential School and Missing Children Project.
- Salmon
- Advocating for protection of salmon nationally and internationally.
As Chief and as a member of Council of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation, I am accountable to our citizens and responsible for the general welfare and good government of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation. As part of this, I will maintain regular and respectful communication with all Citizens and will make every reasonable effort to participate in public meetings and community events. I will also take reasonable care to make informed decisions and avoid participating in decisions when a conflict of interest exists.
The success of our Council will require us to work together to get things done for our Citizens and our Nation. We will work in accordance with our Constitution, Governance Act, and Governance Handbook, and any subsequent legislation and policies enacted around Council expectations and responsibilities, which will support us to work in a respectful, transparent way that is representative of Vuntut Gwitchin values.
As Council, we will protect the credibility and reputation of Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation while acting in the best interest of Citizens with regard to the overall interest of our Nation.
Mahsi’,
Chief Pauline Frost
Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation
Mandate Letter Question and Answer
What is a Mandate Letter?
Each member of Council has been issued a mandate letter that outlines key priorities and responsibility of this Council.
Mandate letters outline the key priorities and pressing challenges that Chief and Council are committed to working on during their term in office. They are one tool in the toolbox of good governance and decision making. They can help prioritize the work of Chief and Council and the administration because they speak to the shared priorities and vision of these leaders.
Mandate letters can help provide some public accountability and transparency about the vision and priorities of leadership. They are also helpful for management employees in the government administration to understand areas of responsibility and who they might expect to work with from Council to move certain initiatives forward.
It is common practice for the political leaders of a government to have letters that guide their work. Mandate letters are used by Yukon Government and the Government of Canada, helping other levels of government understand how to work with each other and where there may be shared priorities. Chief and Council mandate letters give VGFN another tool in government-to-government negotiations, lobbying and funding conversations.
Is this all that Chief and Council are working on?
No. Mandate letters are just one piece of guiding the Chief and Council’s work. They are meant to give some general high-level objectives and areas of focus, but they do not list out every single thing the political leaders or the government is working on.
As priorities shift and work is completed, mandate letters may also be updated from time to time.
If a certain project is not listed in the mandate letter, it does not mean that it isn’t a priority, or that it isn’t being worked on. You also won’t find the day-to-day operations of the government listed out in the mandate letter.
Where did these priorities come from?
The vision and priorities in the mandate letters come from the work that members of Chief and Council have said is important to them, as well as from the discussions and resolutions at the General Assembly. They also look at the topics and areas of focus that come up regularly in Council meetings, from the administration and in the community.
How involved will Chief and Council be in the work on these priorities?
The day-to-day work on these items is done by the employees in the government and Chief and Council will not be involved. They will work with the Executive Director and the Director of Finance to get updates, provide direction where needed and to ensure they are informed on the work so they can share with their fellow Council Members.
Departments should not see a change in their day-to-day or an increase in engagement from Council Members directly. These letters should help clarify areas of responsibility within Chief and Council and the communication channels between political and administration.
Why now?
Chief and Council are working on implementing processes that increase transparency and support effective and accountable governance, now and into the future. Chief and Council are trying to balance the day-to-day work and priorities.
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