June 2026

YukonU welcomes Alexia McKinnon as Vice-President Reconciliation

June 25, 2026

Yukon University is pleased to welcome Alexia McKinnon as Vice-President, Reconciliation.

A Citizen of the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations and a proud Yukoner, McKinnon has built a distinguished career in Indigenous leadership at some of Canada’s most respected institutions, advancing Decolonization, Indigenization, and Truth and Reconciliation across academia, arts, the energy sector, and philanthropy.

Yukon University announces Research Chair in Indigenous Water Governance

June 18, 2026

Dawna Hope presenting to representatives of YukonU and the Gordon Foundation on June 8, 2026.

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.

YukonU welcomes Peter Johnston as AVP Strategic Initiatives

June 16, 2026

YukonU is pleased to announce that Peter Johnston has been appointed Associate Vice-President, Strategic Initiatives.

Johnston brings an extraordinary depth of leadership experience rooted in Yukon First Nations governance and advocacy. A member of the Teslin Tlingit Council and the Teslin Yanyedi clan, Johnston served as Chief of the Teslin Tlingit Council from 2009 to 2012, and over twelve years held senior roles within Teslin Tlingit Council government.

Yukon University and Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in sign Memorandum of Agreement on education co-governance

June 1, 2026

Dawson City, YT – Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in and Yukon University are celebrating a step toward education co-governance. Along with members of the community, the two groups came together at Tr’odëk Hätr’unohtän Zho, Yukon University’s Dawson City campus to sign a Memorandum of Agreement on implementing Section 17.7 of the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Self Government Agreement.

The cooperation agreement establishes a framework for collaboration and shared decision-making between Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in and YukonU around post-secondary education in TH Traditional Territory under section 17.7 of the Self Government Agreement, and will align YukonU operation and program delivery in Dawson City.