One of the ways that the government separated the people was through enfranchisement. This meant that Status Indians could lose their status in numerous ways, thereby breaking their fiscal ties to the Department of Indian Affairs.

For instance, if a man served in a war, he lost his status. When a status woman married a non-status man, her status was removed and she was no longer considered an Indian by the government.

"When Mom married Dad she lost her native rights and she was considered white."

If a man wanted to work, he had to take out his "white rights" to do so. This started a chain reaction which resulted in everyone in his family losing their status.

"I had to take out my white rights in order to get a five-dollar-a-day job. It was hindering my progress."

Johnny Johns worked with YANSI and was instrumental in making sure that land claims were for both status and non-status Yukon First Nation people. (CTFN collection)

This created two distinct groups: status and non-status Indians.

Many non-status people had to leave their communities and migrate to Whitehorse in order to get a job. The Department of Indian Affairs was not responsible to assist with housing, or other programs run through the band system, such as social assistance.

Early in the land claims process, elders and leaders realized that this separation between status and non-status was affecting the way land claims negotiations were unfolding. It seemed to be that only status people would benefit from the settlement.

This simply was not right. With much difficulty and determination, it was decided that all Yukon First Nations people would be recognized under the Yukon land claims, regardless of their status. But this was not an easy process.

Beverly Sembsmoen remembers those early days and her involvement and that of her mother, Shirley Lindstrom.