Whitehorse, Yukon — Around 40 community members gathered outside a local shelter on April 30, calling for urgent reforms in response to a series of tragic drug overdose deaths connected to the facility.
Participants formed a circle and shared personal stories of lost loved ones, many of whom had succumbed to addiction. Dressed in striking red shawls crafted by inmates at the Whitehorse Correctional Centre, attendees paid tribute to family members and friends, one of whom held a sign reading “No more victims.”
The shelter has been the focus of concern due to numerous fatalities associated with substance use. According to the Yukon coroner’s service, there have been 14 confirmed deaths at the shelter since February 2020, including a recent spate of events that has drawn heightened scrutiny. A coroner’s inquest from last spring investigated the deaths of four Indigenous women living at the shelter.
Many of the demonstrators hailed from local Indigenous groups, including First Nations such as Little Salmon Carmacks, Teslin Tlingit Council, Kwanlin Dün, and Champagne and Aishihik. Chief Dawna Hope of the Na-Cho Nyäk Dun First Nation was among the attendees, highlighting the urgency of the situation.
Earlier this year, the Na-Cho Nyäk Dun leadership called for the removal of Connective, the non-profit organization currently managing the shelter, following several overdose deaths, including that of a young tribe member. The Yukon government’s decision to extend Connective’s contract was met with outrage. Karen Nicloux, from Na-Cho Nyäk Dun, expressed her disappointment, calling the government’s action a “slap in the face” to those impacted by the events at the shelter.
Nicloux, who lost a cousin at the shelter, described the facility as the “most dangerous building in the Yukon.” She emphasized the pressing need for change, stating, “If Connective can’t clean it up, they need to go.” She reported that drug use and trafficking are rampant within the shelter’s walls, contradicting its intended purpose as a safe haven for those in need.
Highlighting an alternative, Nicloux praised Blood Ties Four Directions’ safe consumption site, noting it provides a supportive environment that is sorely lacking at the shelter. “If they overdose here, they’re dead,” she stated emphatically.
During a recent press conference, a government official reported that staff at the shelter saved 17 individuals from overdosing between November 2024 and February 2025. However, critics argue that a more compassionate understanding of addiction is needed. Nicloux pointed out that the problem of overdose deaths extends beyond Indigenous communities, citing that members of the LGBTQ community have also been among the deceased.
With no evident representation from the Yukon government at the protest, Nicloux urged for immediate implementation of a no-drug and no-alcohol policy at the shelter, as well as prioritizing hiring First Nations staff who have personal connections to recovery.
“Let’s make these two buildings safe for clients,” she asserted, reiterating the importance of employing individuals with lived experience rather than the current staff. Nicloux recounted a chilling incident where a family member appeared critically unwell, only for staff to reassure them moments later that everything was fine.
Elder Lizzie Hall from the Selkirk First Nation also spoke during the demonstration, sharing her sorrow over the loss of two grandchildren at the shelter. Hall emphasized the vital role of elders in guiding youth, reflecting on community traditions that have dimmed in recent years.
“Elders used to teach the younger generation how to live a traditional life and love one another,” she recalled. “Now, it feels like the elders aren’t even given the chance to speak.”
As the community seeks to address the urgent need for reform and support, the future of the shelter remains uncertain. Local leaders continue to advocate for a comprehensive strategy that prioritizes safety and efficacy in addressing the challenges surrounding addiction and homelessness in Yukon.