YFNHA Board of Directors 2023-2024

44th Annual Kilrich Building Centres Yukon Native Hockey Tournament Board & Coordinators

• President: Michelle Dawson-Beattie

• Vice President: Michael Tuton
• Treasurer / Secretary: Jackie Callahan
• Board Director: Shirley Dawson
• Board Director: Cheyenne Bradley
• Board Director: Steve Smith
• Board Director: Ryan Bursey
• Tournament Coordinator: Karee Vallevand
• Coordinator of Youth / Jamboree Divs: Tanya Hope
• Volunteers:  George Skookum, Jonini-Lynn Kushniruk, Davina Mcleod
• Volunteers: Michele Taylor, Carissa Waugh, Morris Morrison

• The Yukon First Nations Hockey Association (formerly Yukon Indian Hockey Association / YIHA) was created in 1973 to promote aboriginal hockey for all ages and provide the opportunity for Yukon's First Nation athletes to compete with other Canadian provinces and territories in the sport. For over 40 years, through the hard work and dedication of a volunteer board, the Yukon First Nations Hockey Association has hosted the Yukon Native Hockey Tournament in Whitehorse. This tournament is the biggest and best native hockey tournament north of 60 that attracts First Nation hockey players from all over the north, northern British Columbia and from across Turtle Island. The tournament is hosted in Whitehorse on the traditional land of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and the Ta'an Kwäch'än Council.

• The Kilrich Building Centres Yukon Native hockey tournament is the biggest event hosted in Whitehorse on an annual basis and is one of the most anticipated social events of the year. In 2023, we expanded the tournament by adding a Womens's Division (5 teams) and splitting the Jamboree Division to include a competative division which brought the total from 43 teams to 56. This is the maximum number of teams we can host on 3 ice surfaces over 4 days- 40 adult teams & 16 youth teams. In addition to hosting the annual tournament, YFNHA board sponsors Adult & Youth to travel inside/outside the territory to hockey tournaments throughout the year and it works in partnership with other organizations to offer skill development camps for all levels of players. An example of this is the 2019 Northwestel and Yukon First Nations Hockey Association Summer Hockey Camp. This year, the hockey camp will be held July 6 to 10, 2023 (CANCELLED)

• The 44th Annual Kilrich Yukon Native Hockey Tournament is set for March 21 to 24, 2024 at Takhini Arena & Canada Winter Games Centre