Reconnection Vision / Strategic Plan / 2026-2031 by reconnectionvisionyukon

STRATEGIC PLAN 2026-2031

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Reconnection Vision (RV) is a societal shift guide and toolkit that sees all Yukon people living as whole people and in good relationship with ourselves, each other and the Land. It is a youth-led movement grounded in Yukon First Nations knowledge, values, and ways of being, created to guide a long-term path toward renewed relationships with the Land, water, animals, and each other in the spirit of wholeness. Yukon First Nations have a long history of working together to define their path forward. This work continues to shape how we live today. Now, a new generation is stepping forward to lead another shift. The Reconnection Vision responds to the impacts of disconnection caused by colonial systems and seeks to restore balance through culture, community, and collective responsibility. What began as a climate action plan has evolved into a societal shift framework, rooted in story, ceremony, and lived experience rather than conventional policy approaches. This strategic plan sets the direction for the next phase of that movement, focusing on building organizational and governance structures that reflect the principles of Reconnection, building a movement through sharing and storytelling, expanding the Reconnection education program, and strengthening and building effective partnerships. Through tools, experiences, and community-driven approaches, the Reconnection Vision supports individuals and communities in becoming w h o l e , w h i l e c o n t r i b u t i n g to b r o a d e r t ra n s f o r m a t i o n across the Yukon and beyond. This work is not short-term; it is part of a 50-year journey to create lasting change. By investing in this vision today, we are supporting a movement that future generations will recognize as a defining moment of Reconnection.

there has been a movement like this one in the yukon before, one that was grounded in community and was responsible for shaping a new way forward, but it was a long time ago. it was something we live and breathe now like it has always been. it was the creation of together today for our children tomorrow, the guiding document created by yukon first nations in 197os. now, the children of tomorrow have started a new movement. one that will again change the way we are. one that our grandchildren will remember as a fundamental shift that led to true reconnection.

VISION R ECO N N ECTI O N VI S I O N I S A YO U T H - L E D M OV E M E N T TO R E V I V E O U R SAC R E D CO N N ECTI O N S WITH O U R S E LV E S , E A C H O T H E R A N D T H E L A N D TO H E A L O U R SYST E M S AN D CO M M U N ITI ES I N C ER EM O NY S O T H E C H I L D R E N O F TO M O R R OW CA N B E WH O L E P EO P L E .

We are stor y tellers, ar ti s t s , w ri te rs , L a n d - g u a rd i a n s , h u n te rs , parents, siblings, cousins, a c t i v i s t s , s t u d e n t s , l a n g u a g e rev i t a l i ze rs , entrepreneurs, and leaders. As t h e c u rre n t vo i ce s o f t h e R e co n n e c t i o n Vision, our work takes many fo rm s . O u r wo rk i s d e e p l y i n fo rm e d by o u r natural environment , we wo rk i n co l l a b o ra t i o n w i t h t h e s ea s o n s , a n d we work in alignment with t h e p h a s e s o f t h e m o o n . Co l l e c t i ve l y, we aim to lead by example, creat i n g l a b o u r s t r u c t u re s t h a t re co n n e c t u s to ea ch o t h er and the Land. T he Reco nnec ti on Vi si on, l au n ch e d in t h e su mme r of 20 23 , ou t lin e s a Yukon First Nations Climate Ac t i o n P l a n a i m e d a t i m p l e m e n t i n g s o ci e t a l shifts in the Yukon. Based o n co m m u n i ty kn ow l e d g e a n d va l u e s , t h i s vis ion s eeks to overco me ba rrie rs a n d colon ia l f ra meworks t h a t h ave d is tan ced us fro m our i denti t ies a n d L a n ds. Our goal is to create transfo rm a t i ve ex p e ri e n ce s a n d e d u c a t i o n to o l s that strengthen our relation s h i p s w i t h o u rs e l ve s , ea ch o t h e r, a n d t h e Land. We will develop an inte r- re l a t i o n a l f ra m ewo rk to a d d re s s ex i s t i n g barriers to Reconnec tion an d d e e p e n o u r u n d e rs t a n d i n g o f w h a t i t m eans to be whol e peopl e, tog e t h e r. U l tim atel y, we ai m to revi ve ou r sa cred con n e c t ion s a n d move for wa rd with all o ur relations in cerem o ny a n d co m m u n i ty, a s we wo rk to g e t h e r to become whol e ours el ves .

T h e Reconnec ti o n Vi si o n (R V ) is a socie t a l sh if t g u ide a n d toolkit t h a t sees all Yukon people living a s w h o l e p e o p l e a n d i n g o o d re l a t i o n s h i p with ourselves, each other a n d t h e L a n d . T h e R V wa s re l ea s e d i n J u n e 2023 and is endorsed by Yuko n F i rs t N a t i o n s a s t h e u n i f i e d a p p roa ch to climate ac tion in the region . I m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e R V i s c u rre n t l y l e d by members of the former Yu ko n F i rs t N a t i o n s C l i m a te Ac t i o n Fe l l ows h i p Steering Committee and Fel l ows . We a s p i re to seed a movem en t , w h ere Yu ko n p eo p l e u n d ers t a n d t h e philosophical worldview of t h e R V, a re a b l e to i d e n t i f y t h e n o rm s o f disconnec tion and gain volit i o n a n d a g e n cy to b e co m e w h o l e p e o p l e i n their ever yday life. To achieve t h i s , we m u s t f i rs t d o o u r b e s t to l i ve t r u e to the seeds and phi l os ophy of Recon n e c t ion today. In Augu st 2025, we joined M a keWay s h a re d p l a t fo rm , “ p rov i d i ng u s with a solid foundation to g row, f u n d ra i s e , a n d m ea n i n g f u l l y s h a re the RV. Over the next year, we w i l l co n t i n u e to b u i l d a n o rg a n i z a t i o n a l struc ture and cul ture of who l e n e s s , b u i l d a m ove m e n t t h ro u g h s h a ri n g and s tor y tel l i ng, and care for a n d bu ild ou r re la t ion sh ips. We believe RV implementat i o n i s a 5 0 -yea r j o u rn ey. At t h i s s t a g e , we are working to ensure our co re tea m i s s t ro n g a n d a b l e to u p h o l d t h e vir tues of the RV. With this s t ro n g fo u n d a t i o n , we w i l l co n t i n u e to s h a re the RV and over the years to co m e , we a s p i re to s e e o u r Vi s i o n co m e into being.

VALUES LEADERSHIP TREE PAINTING BY JOCELYN JOE-STRACK, OUR VIEW FROM THE SEPT 2024 RETREAT NEAR FISH LAKE, YT.

THE TREE REPRESENTS OUR CORE LEADERSHIP VALUES BRANCHES / LEAVES LEADING THE WAY • BEING IN GOOD RELATIONSHIP ALWAYS GROWING • NURTURING COMMUNITY LANGUAGE & CULTURE EVERYWHERE • SOUP & TEA HOLDING UP OUR YOUTH

TRUNK / HEARTWOOD COURAGE � LOVE � TRUST � INCLUSION • KNOW OURSELVES

ROOTS CONNECTION: As we reconnect with ourselves, each other, and the Land we root our relationships in trust, vulnerability, empathy, culture, and care. We lead with love, intuition, kindness, and hope. WHOLENESS & BALANCE: We nurture emotional, physical, spiritual, and mental well-being. As we heal and restore balance, we make better decisions and lead with strength. We recognize and heal the systems of disconnection to be whole people and care for ourselves and others. CURIOSITY & CREATIVITY: We embrace learning, dreaming, visioning, playing, and laughter. We open doors for safe, inclusive spaces for exploration and creative possibilities. RESPONSIBILITY & ACCOUNTABILITY: We hold ourselves accountable, share the workload, and act with respect, courage, humility, and self-awareness. We honour our ancestors, and we are responsible to the Yukon youth, to ensure we continue the work of Together Today for our Children Tomorrow.

SEEDS We cannot offer a single Reconnection pathway. Every person, community, and organization will walk their own route in their own way. Through Our Story, we name the systemic structures that create barriers to Reconnection and share the Reconnection Seeds as the learnings that can help guide how those barriers might be addressed as we seek to become whole. Instead of producing a conventional policy plan, we uphold Indigenous ways by sharing the teachings from our Elders, our stories and our own Reconnection journey. These teachings honour the many pathways individually and collectively that each of us must deﬁne and take responsibility for. Each Seed reflects a deep learning from the journey so far, and together they shape how we will continue advancing our Vision.

GOAL 1 BUILD ORGANIZATIONAL AND GOVERNANCE STRUCTURES THAT REFLECT THE PRINCIPLES OF RECONNECTION A central part of the RV philosophy is that we must heal and become whole people to be in good relationship with ourselves, each other and the Land. From this place, we believe we will make better decisions for our communities. This means nourishing our spiritual and emotional capacities, along with the physical and intellectual parts of our being. We need to hold ourselves accountable, work together with trust and share the workload of leading, administering, listening, and flowing with the cycles of the Land. In this model, we challenge the norms of productivity that work against wholeness and prevent us from being in good relationship. Where our measure of productivity includes some conventional activities, (i.e. manage budgets, emails, meetings, generate plans and content), along with activities that contribute to our balanced state of wholeness and development of our relational capacities (the mental, physical, spiritual and emotional parts of ourselves) as well as what makes us Indigenous (i.e. harvesting food and medicine from the Land, learning and normalizing our languages, contributing to community). This reframe of productivity is central to realizing the Reconnection Vision and is reflected in our overarching organizational Dugout Governance Framework.

OBJECTIVES • • • • • • • •

Strengthen RV Steering Committee + Ambassador Committee Develop internal policies Secure long term funding Evaluate current capacity & develop and implement a plan to address staffing and mentorship needs Finalize & implement the Dugout Governance Framework Build and grow a work culture of wholeness Strengthen documentation and evaluation across programs and activities Strengthen organizational administration systems to improve efficiency, accessibility, and consistency of operations

GOAL 2 BUILD A MOVEMENT THROUGH SHARING AND STORYTELLING A key objective at this stage of RV implementation is to share the RV with others. We need to ensure people know what this project is about, understand the philosophy, and feel inspired to live more whole lives. This includes sharing stories and lessons learned of how we are actively Reconnecting and confronting systematic disconection in everything we do, from governance to programming to how we show up every day.

OBJECTIVES • • • •

Keep building “How we Share our Stories” across social platforms Finalize a Reconnection Vision Facilitation Guide Plan and host a 2027 Maori delegation visit Expand outreach and engagement through participation in strategic speaking events • Develop and implement programming to learn, preserve and teach Yukon First Nation language stories • Develop and deliver on-the-Land journeys that centre ceremony, navigation, and knowledge sharing, with documentation to support ongoing storytelling and movement-building • Bring the Reconnection House dream into being

GOAL 3 EXPAND THE RECONNECTION EDUCATION PROGRAM

The Reconnection Vision upholds the virtue that learning is a lifelong, relational process that supports people and communities in becoming whole and grounded in their identities, responsibilities, and connections to the Land and each other. We aspire to build community by curating educational experiences that nurture wholeness. Expanding the Reconnection Education Program means deepening and broadening opportunities for individuals to engage with these teachings and the RV philosophy in accessible, meaningful ways. This includes further developing RV curriculum in partnership with the Illuminating Worldviews project, Land-based learning experiences, and mentorship opportunities that reflect the values of wholeness, reciprocity, and respect. As the program grows, it will continue to centre Indigenous knowledge systems and ways of learning, while adapting to meet people where they are in their journeys.

OBJECTIVES • Co-develop and support implementing a Fellowship-inspired community cohort • Collaboratively develop a map of the Reconnection movement that reflects its people, relationships, and reach • Develop Reconnection Vision Curriculum in three streams: - Educators/public education - Post-secondary (with the intention for accredited program) - First Nation language focus

GOAL 4 STRENGTHEN AND BUILD EFFECTIVE PARTNERSHIPS

Strong, values-aligned partnerships are essential to advancing the Reconnection Vision and supporting collective impact for a future grounded in wholeness. The Reconnection Vision needs to settle into its position as a next iteration of Together Today for Our Children Tomorrow, to be the current youth-led movement. This work involves building and nurturing relationships with communities, organizations, and institutions that share a commitment to Reconnection and youth futures. Effective partnerships are grounded in trust, mutual learning, and a recognition of each partner’s strengths and contributions. By working together in a good way, these relationships can support the sharing of knowledge, the expansion of programming, and the long-term sustainability of Reconnection as a Vision.

OBJECTIVES • Strengthen and expand education partnerships to support shared learning, curriculum development, classroom teaching, programming, and knowledge exchange • Build a sustainable funding and programming model that includes short and long-term partnerships with philanthropy, government, and First Nations • Deepen community-based partnerships to nourish a community-of-practice and ensure meaningful collaboration, reciprocity, and local engagement • Advance leadership and institutional partnerships to strengthen alignment, influence, and collective impact •

RECONNECTION VISION WORK PLAN 1. BUILD ORGANIZATIONAL AND GOVERNANCE STRUCTURES THAT REFLECT THE PRINCIPLES OF RECONNECTION. A.

Strengthening RV Steering Committee + Ambassador Committee

Develop internal policies

Secure long term funding

Evaluate current capacity & develop and implement a plan to address stafﬁng need

Finalize & implement the Dugout Governance Framework

Build and grow a work culture of wholeness

Strengthen documentation and evaluation across programs and activities

Strengthen organizational administration systems to improve efﬁciency, accessibility, and consistency of operations

2. BUILD A MOVEMENT THROUGH SHARING AND STORYTELLING A.

Keep building “How we Share our Stories” platforms

Finalize a Reconnection Vision Facilitation Guide

Plan and host a Maori delegation visit May 2027

Expand outreach and engagement through participation in strategic speaking events

Develop and implement programming to learn, preserve and teach Yukon First Nation language stories

Develop and deliver on-the-Land journeys that centre ceremony, navigation, and knowledge sharing, with documentation to support ongoing storytelling and movement-building

Bring the Reconnection House dream into being

YEAR ONE 2026-2027 Q1

YEAR TWO 2027-2028 Q4

YEAR THREE 2028-2029 Q4

YEAR FOUR 2029-2030 Q4

YEAR FIVE 2030-2031 Q4

RECONNECTION VISION WORK PLAN 3. EXPAND THE RECONNECTION EDUCATION PROGRAM A.

Co-develop and support implementing a Fellowship-inspired community cohort

Collaboratively develop a map of the Reconnection movement that reﬂects its people, relationships, and reach

Develop Reconnection Vision Curriculum in three streams: i)

Educators/public education

ii) Post-secondary (with the intention for accredited program) iii) First Nation Language focus 4. STRENGTHEN AND BUILD EFFECTIVE PARTNERSHIPS A.

Strengthen and expand education partnerships to support shared learning, programming, and knowledge exchange

Build and sustain philanthropic and foundation partnerships to support long-term investment in organizational priorities

Deepen community-based partnerships to ensure meaningful collaboration, reciprocity, and local engagement

Advance leadership and institutional partnerships to strengthen alignment, inﬂuence, and collective impact

NOTES: