The Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN) and the Yukon government have announced a partnership to open a First Nations‑led group home to serve Indigenous children currently in government care. The facility, to be called Auntie’s House, is intended to provide a culturally grounded home for sibling groups and will be funded by the territorial government, according to a joint release published July 30.
Focus on culture, stability and family links
The project is being launched as a pilot, designed to test whether a First Nations‑led care model can improve outcomes for children in care. Officials say the home will prioritise stability and the strengthening of connections to culture, community and family.
“This initiative represents an important step toward Yukon First Nation‑led care that keeps culture, community and relationships at the centre,”
The statement, attributed to CYFN Grand Chief Math’ieya Alatini, said the council expects positive outcomes for First Nations children and families as the program unfolds.
Pilot aims and evaluation
The pilot will allow CYFN and the Yukon government to assess several outcome areas, including:
- Cultural continuity — maintaining and revitalising cultural ties for children in care
- Placement stability — keeping siblings together and reducing movement between placements
- Well‑being — monitoring the physical, emotional and social health of children served
According to the release, Auntie’s House is expected to begin operations within weeks. The territorial government will provide the funding for the initiative while CYFN will be involved in implementing the program and tracking results during the pilot phase.
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Name | Auntie’s House |
| Partners | Council of Yukon First Nations; Yukon government |
| Purpose | First Nations‑led group home for sibling groups |
| Funding | Yukon government |
| Start | Expected within weeks (pilot) |
Community‑led child welfare initiatives are part of broader conversations across Canada about Indigenous jurisdiction and culturally appropriate care. In the Yukon, the move signals an effort to create care options that centre Indigenous identity and familial connections rather than relying solely on non‑Indigenous models of foster and group care.
The joint release said the pilot will be used to gather evidence on whether a First Nations‑led approach improves continuity of culture and relationships for children in care, and whether those changes lead to better stability and well‑being. Officials from both partners will monitor and report on the pilot’s outcomes as it proceeds.
Further details about the home’s location, staffing, and intake process were not provided in the release. The announcement said the initiative is being implemented as a pilot to inform potential wider adoption of First Nations‑led care models in the territory.
Contact details and next steps were not outlined beyond the partners’ commitment to begin operations soon. The CYFN and Yukon government said they will use the pilot to assess whether the model should be expanded to serve more children and families in the territory.
