Government of Yukon renews funding for the Northern Institute of Social Justice

WHITEHORSE—Minister of Education Elaine Taylor announced approval of a funding project today with Yukon College, committing an additional $2,540,772 for the continued operation of the Northern Institute of Social Justice through to March 31, 2019.

“The Yukon government is pleased to support the work of the Northern Institute of Social Justice because it has far-reaching benefits,” Education Minister Elaine Taylor said. “Front-line workers gain the knowledge and skills they can use to help their clients, First Nation and Yukon government service providers have resources to train their staff, and ultimately, citizens are better served with well-trained service providers.”

The Northern Institute of Social Justice (NISJ) provides training and professional development to frontline workers who deliver social justice related programs and services. Employees in all levels of government and non-government organizations benefit from the training. Since June 2010, training offered by the NISJ has reached over 2,511 professionals working in Yukon through delivery of 124 workshop sessions.

NISJ programming covers topics such as trauma, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, managing response to threats and aggression, dealing with loss, grief and healing in the workplace, residential school awareness, Yukon First Nations histories and cultures, arbitration and understanding of legislation.

For example, Department of Education staff have directly benefited from NISJ programs. In August 2013, NISJ delivered a professional development course for teachers and principals from across Yukon just before the new school year started. The course was a half-day pilot session on Residential School Awareness. The Resolution Health Support Workers in the Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN), Liard First Nation and the Committee on Abuse in Residential Schools (CAIRS) all collaborated in the development of the course.

“NISJ programs are positively impacting the way frontline justice, police education, social service and health professionals are interacting with their clients and with each other,” said Yukon College President and NISJ Governing Council Chair Dr. Karen Barnes. “I am tremendously proud of the work we have achieved so far. It is a testament to the faith, commitment and hard work of our partners across federal, Yukon and First Nations government departments — and that of our NISJ staff — that we have achieved so much in just three years.”