The following open letter was written by Yukon NDP MLA for Mount Lorne–Southern Lakes Kevin Barr to celebrate National Aboriginal Day:

Yukon First Nations cultural recognition and reconciliation were granted a hopeful step forward today with the passage of Yukon NDP MLA Kevin Barr’s motion to recognize National Aboriginal Day, celebrated on 21 June every year, as a Yukon statutory holiday. With broad support from the Yukon public and the leadership of Yukon’s First Nations governments, the step will set the gears in motion for the Yukon government to add National Aboriginal Day to the territory’s statutory holiday list.

The Yukon Legislative Assembly will debate Yukon NDP MLA Kevin Barr’s motion to make National Aboriginal Day, 21 June, a statutory Yukon holiday following Question Period today. Approximately one in four Yukoners identifies as being First Nations, Métis or Inuit. While Yukon First Nation governments already give their employees the day off, no other Yukon workers are formally given the opportunity to celebrate Aboriginal cultures on National Aboriginal Day.

On Thursday, 29 October Yukon NDP Community Services Critic Kevin Barr asked the following question about the government's proposed Municipal Act amendments:

On Monday, 2 November Yukon NDP MLA Kevin Barr asked the following question about the Yukon Party government's support for his initiative to make National Aboriginal Day a statutory holiday in Yukon.

On Thursday, 29 October Yukon NDP MLA Kevin Barr asked the following question about opportunities to grow the wildlife viewing industry in Yukon.

This op-ed appeared in the Whitehorse Star on Friday, June 26 2015.

This fall, NDP MLA Kevin Barr plans to table a motion to make National Aboriginal Day a paid statutory holiday in the territory.

The Yukon NDP wants to give National Aboriginal Day, celebrated on June 21st, the same prestige as Discovery Day by making it a paid statutory holiday in Yukon. Making National Aboriginal Day a general holiday would recognize the contributions of Yukon indigenous people while supporting efforts at reconciliation and understanding between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Yukoners.