Two Yukon First Nations chiefs have written to the Yukon and federal governments that they will be looking to take health care matters into their own hands.

CBC News has obtained letters addressed to Yukon Premier Currie Dixon and Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Rebecca Alty. They were written by Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation Chief Pauline Frost and Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation (LS/CFN) Chief Russell Blackjack.

Aside from nation-specific wording, the letters are identical. Both chiefs have stated that if the Yukon government either repeals or, in their eyes, weakens the Health Authority Act, the two First Nations will engage the governments to assume health care responsibilities for their citizens.

Per their self-governing agreements, the Yukon and federal governments have until the end of May to create a workplan with the First Nations regarding talks.

Frost’s letter was tabled in the Yukon Legislative Assembly as a document by interim Liberal leader and Vuntut Gwitchin MLA Debra-Leigh Reti. Blackjack’s letter was provided to CBC News by a third party, and the LS/CFN confirmed its authenticity.

Frost, a former Liberal health minister, was unavailable for an interview, and LS/CFN declined a similar request to speak with Blackjack.

CBC News surveyed the remaining 12 First Nations in the territory, asking if their chiefs have submitted similar letters or have had discussions about submitting a letter.

The Ta’an Kwäch’än Council said it has not submitted a letter, nor has it had discussions about doing so.

In a statement to CBC News, the council of the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyäk Dun did not answer the questions directly, but said they were “deeply disappointed” in the Yukon government’s decision to pause the health authority and “the overarching authority measures” associated with the updated Health Authority Act. Those changes were passed earlier in the current sitting of the legislature and received assent last week.

Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in declined to comment, and CBC News is awaiting official comment from the remaining nine First Nations.

CBC News is also awaiting a statement from Alty.

Government’s priorities vs. First Nations’ needs

The topic of a territorial health authority has become a contentious issue since the election of the new Yukon government.

The Yukon Party, which won an overwhelming majority government in November, committed to pausing work to create a unified health authority, known as Health and Wellness Yukon or Shäw Kwä’ą. To that end, they announced their plan at February’s Yukon Forum.

Among other things, the amendments to the Health Authority Act let the government re-take control over health services. The government is also planning to formally repeal the legislation in the fall, pending discussions with First Nations and other stakeholders in the interim.

Health and Social Services Minister Brad Cathers previously said working with First Nations on culturally-safe care is a separate concern to reforming the governance and administrative structure of the health care system. But critics say an arms-length health authority is needed to fix issues in the territorial system, such as systemic racism towards First Nations Yukoners.