In 1998, the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in, the Government of Canada and the Government of the Yukon signed the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Final Agreement (THFA). In November of 2005, the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in requested the establishment of a regional land use planning commission (“Commission”)
based on Chapter 11 of the THFA:

Government and any affected Yukon First Nation may agree to establish a Regional Land Use Planning Commission to develop a Regional Land Use Plan (11.4)

From 2010-2014, a Dawson Regional Planning Commission operated before being put in a abeyance. These Terms of Reference (TOR) have been developed in 2018 through a process of consultation and consensus by the Yukon Land Use Planning Council (“Council”), Yukon Government, Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in, with discussion with the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation. The Approval Parties for the Regional Land Use Plan are the Yukon Government, and the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in. It builds on, and is consistent with, the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Final Agreement.

Some key points include:

• A new region boundary that reflects a recent agreement between Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in and Vuntut Gwitchin Government regarding their overlapping Traditional Territories. This new region is a bit smaller, and has two non-contiguous (not touching) portions. See the adjacent map.
• The Commission should consider potential future land uses and their implications. The time horizon for these considerations should be no less than 20 years.
• A Technical Working Group, with members from the Parties, commission staff and the Yukon Land Use Planning Council, with help provide information to the Commission from the Parties and other sources.
• The Senior Liaison Committee, with members from the Parties, will clarify policies and directions.
• The Commission will be provided updated information reports. Their first major planning product from them will likely be a Draft Plan.
• The Commission should have completed their planning process by the first half of 2020.