Yukon University announces Research Chair in Indigenous Water Governance

Whitehorse, YT – The School of Indigenous Governance at Yukon University is pleased to announce the appointment of Dawna Hope as Research Chair, Indigenous Water Governance.

At their Annual General Meeting, held on June 8th in Whitehorse, representatives of The Gordon Foundation and Yukon University welcomed Dawna in her new role, made possible through the foundation’s five-year commitment to funding this new research chair.

In this position, Dawna will lead collaborative efforts to shape policies and governance structures related to the implementation of Chapter 14 of the Yukon First Nations Final Agreements, while advancing water governance initiatives across the Yukon and the North, including the potential development of a Traditional Territory Water Strategy.

Dawna brings more than 15 years of experience to this role, having worked in environmental stewardship, technical field research, education, and governance. Her work has included conducting technical field methodologies, serving as an instructor for RRMT 134: Salmon Hatcheries and Fisheries Management at Yukon College, and working directly with Yukon First Nations and multiple levels of government, including as a Regional Fish and Wildlife Harvest Technician with the Yukon Government.

“We are grateful to The Gordon Foundation for their support of the Indigenous Water Governance Research Chair. I am pleased to welcome Dawna Hope, and her experience and passion for Indigenous governance and water stewardship. Her research work will help bridge the gaps that exist between Yukon First Nations Final Agreements and their real world implementation.”

- Dr. Shelagh Rowles, Interim President and Vice-Chancellor, Yukon University

“I feel honoured to receive the role as Yukon University Water Governance Chair. My ancestors have been my guiding light every step of the way. From growing up running up and down the side of the river chasing salmon in parallel to the development of Land Claims and Self-Governance, and watching the implementation unfold, upholding these modern treaty agreements have not only given back my culture and identity, they have created opportunity to get my education in my own backyard, ‘Yukon Made.’ I get to pay it forward to share the knowledge I have gained not only through my educational path and lifetime of traditional knowledge life experiences, now I also get to include Indigenous Science.”

- Dawna Hope, Research Chair, Indigenous Water Governance

Dawna brings a deep and passionate understanding of Constitutional Rights, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the Umbrella Final Agreement, Yukon Land Claims and Self-Government Agreements, and the legislation, planning, and governance frameworks that guide resource management in Yukon.

In September 2025, Dawna was nominated by the Assembly of First Nations to receive the King Charles III Coronation Medal in recognition of her significant contributions and dedicated service to her community, including her leadership as the first elected female Chief of the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyak Dun and her earlier work advancing water budget and strategy initiatives.

About Dawna Hope

Dawna is a member of the Crow Clan and the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyak Dun in Mayo, Yukon. She holds a Diploma with Honours in Renewable Resource Management from Yukon College (2007), a Bachelor of Science in Northern Environmental and Conservation Science from the University of Alberta (2013), and a Certificate with Honours in First Nations Governance and Public Administration from Yukon University (2024).

Dawna has also served on numerous boards and committees, including the Victoria Gold CBA Committee, the Na-Cho Nyak Dun Development Corporation Board of Directors, the Mayo Renewable Resources Council (as Chair), and the Porcupine Caribou Management Board as an appointee of the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyak Dun.

About The Gordon Foundation

The Gordon Foundation is a charitable organization with a long history of protecting Canada’s water and working in Canada’s North. Their mission to promote innovative public policies for the North in freshwater management, guided by the values of independent thought, protecting the environment, and the full participation of Indigenous Peoples in decisions affecting their communities.