The 50 year dream: The promise of a better tomorrow
This blog post was written by Reconnection Vision Fellow Ryan Kyikavichik
In 1973, a dream of a better tomorrow began – a dream by Elijah Smith and a delegation of Yukon Chiefs. A document was written: Together Today for our Children Tomorrow.
Modern Treaties were signed, and 11 self-governments were formed, each with different models of governance.
Our past Elders wanted their children to have a chance in the growing world around them. Education and land protection was at the heart of these important discussions about the future of Yukon First Nation Children.
However, with the establishment of self-government in 1993, we still found ourselves “dancing around the table” as Bill Wilson has described.
In 2022 nearly 50 years later, another dream began: Reconnection Vision.
This dream was dreamt by 13 Yukon First Nation Fellows. As one of these Fellows, this Reconnection has led me down paths I have not known before. At the time, it was just an idea, but like all ideas, it started branching out.
As a young First Nation man, I did not feel comfortable talking about my past, nor talking about my feelings - I found it difficult to be a part of community.
Somewhere along the way, with kindness and genuine compassion for where I was at in life, I slowly started participating in ceremony and prayer. I can recall our time in Atlin BC, being the first time I have ever closed my eyes and prayed with my fellow companions. I hadn’t prayed since I was seven years old.
This was my pivot point into being a part of community.
In 2025, I sit on committees, boards, councils, and among community. Today we still uphold that dream that started in 1973, to the very best of our abilities. Sometimes upholding those attributes is not easy, but with the support of companions, friends, and community that dream will become reality. I see it. I have experienced it firsthand. Where the Western education system has failed, our guiding principles have succeeded.
Teaching: “We need to look where we are at, in order to know where we are going.” – Words of our Elders.
This teaching can be interpreted in many ways. For me, it gave me the tools to check-in with myself, asking:
“Where am I in life?” and “Where am I going?”
