YUKON UNIVERSITY
Power Corporation of Canada donates $100k to develop Institute of Indigenous Self-Determination at YukonU

Power Corporation of Canada has donated $100,000 to support the development of an Institute of Indigenous Self-Determination (IISD) at Yukon University.  

This investment will support the design and development of a mentorship program aimed at building capacity of participants engaged in Human Resources, Lands or Finance within their First Nations government.  

"The Institute of Indigenous Self-Determination at YukonU will support First Nations governments in their implementation of their self-government agreements through research and capacity development and will share the important stories of the struggle for and achievement of self-determination. This significant investment by Power Corporation of Canada will be used to design programs supporting the professional development of individuals serving their communities in Canada's North," said Chùsi Robin Bradasch, associate vice president Indigenous Engagement and Partnerships.  

"Power Corporation is delighted to support the new mentorship program at the Institute of Indigenous Self-Determination", said Paul C. Genest, senior vice-president at Power Corporation. "This program will help fulfill the vision of the University's inspired collaboration with the 14 Yukon First Nations. We see a very bright future for the University and the peoples of Yukon in the years to come, with YukonU playing a vital role in developing homegrown talent and a next generation of leadership."  

Across several years, Yukon University and the 14 Yukon First Nations have collaborated in identifying a governance model for the institute. From these discussions, research and capacity development have been identified as two key priorities. Advancing the IISD was paused as YukonU and the First Nations addressed the COVID-19 pandemic but resumed in October 2020.