Lëzra hè shih wëchihkèt! I will buy food with that money!
We are so thrilled to announce that the 2005/2026 Robert Service School Nutrition Program has been fully funded through a generous donation by the Yukon’s placer mining community!
For over five years, the Robert Service School Nutrition Program began serving hot breakfast, lunch, and snacks to RSS students . This has had a tremendously positive impact on our learning community, allowing our young ones to break bread together and begin their days with their nutritional needs met. With their bellies full, our students can focus on growing their minds and community—something that every learner deserves.
While the school nutrition program was previously funded through Jordan’s Principle, changes to that funding stream in early 2025 meant we could not offer the program for the 2025/2026 school year. Thankfully, members of the placer mining community caught wind of this and volunteered to step in and provide the necessary funds to keep the program running—a huge donation!
A representative for the Klondike Placer Miners’ Association, explained the generous donation further:
“Yukon’s placer mining heritage has always been deeply tied to our communities. As placer miners, we understand what it means to look after each other in tough conditions, show up when it really matters, and make sure no one is left behind. This is a moment where our industry can step up and take part in providing that same spirit of care and resiliency to the next generation. By coming together now, we can actively give back to those who make this place home, and those that have done so long before mining began. Ensuring everyone’s basic needs are met is a crucial part of co-creating a healthy and vibrant future, and that starts with the simple things. In addition to feeding people, this program also feeds the hope, belonging, and spirit of community that reflects the best of who we are in the Yukon. As an industry, we are thrilled to be able to support this program and the people of our community as they do for us.”
A strong mähsį to all those who have donated to this incredibly important program—our educators and jëje-in working in the school report that this program makes a noticeable and immediate impact on the school community. We are working hard to get the program staffed and ready to deliver meals as soon as possible. Trʼinkʼè-in hǫzǫ kʼä̀nä̀cha. We take care of the children.