Former Chancellors

Sam Johnston Chancellor 2004-2008

Sam Johnston was Chancellor of Yukon College from September 2004 to August 2008. He was born and raised in Teslin, Yukon and is a well respected elder of the Ishkitan Clan of the Teslin Tlingit Council. Sam was active for many years at the College, encouraging and teaching students in traditional native studies. He was one of the Yukon First Nations Chiefs who presented the grievance statement, Together Today for Our Children Tomorrow, to Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau in 1973, which became the basis of the Yukon land claim. Sam had a lengthy political career in the Yukon that included the role of Chief of the Teslin Tlingit council for over 14 years. He was elected as an MLA and was the first First Nation Speaker of the Yukon Legislative Assembly. He is known for his involvement in Dene Games and archery and is also an active Tlingit dancer. Sam is a recipient of the Yukon Commissioner's Award and in 1993 he was inducted into Sport Yukon's Hall of Fame.

Ken McKinnon Chancellor 2000-2004

Ken McKinnon was Chancellor of Yukon College from September 2000 to August 2004. He has been a long-time resident of Yukon, but was born and educated in Winnipeg, Manitoba and received a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Manitoba. Ken has held many leadership positions and made significant contributions to the development of the Yukon Territory. He was the youngest member of the Yukon Legislative Assembly in 1961 and served three terms, where he was involved in the transferring of federal responsibilities to the territorial government. Ken was the first President of the Arctic Winter Games, the first Chair of the Yukon Anniversaries Commission and Yukon Commissioner from March 1986 to June 1995. He was involved in the creation of Kluane National Park and is currently the Chair of the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board. He was made an Honorary Chief of the Yukon Native Brotherhood for his support of the original land claim on behalf of Yukon First Nations. Ken is a recipient of the Governor General's Centennial Medal, Canada 125 Medal and the Queen's Silver Jubilee Medal.

Pearl Kennan Chancellor 1993-2000

Pearl Kennan was Chancellor of Yukon College from December 1993 to August 2000. She was born along the Nisutlin River in Southern Yukon in 1920. Pearl is named after her maternal grandmother, Taukuk laa, which means Mother of the Taku River. She is an Elder of the Teslin Tlingit and has six grandchildren. Pearl has worked to preserve and teach the Tlingit language and is known for her community involvement. She has held a variety of positions, from working with children as a home school coordinator in the British Columbia public school system, to counseling inmates in prisons in the Vancouver area. Pearl has also worked with the Selkirk Healing Centre and Selkirk Foundation for Youth in Manitoba, conducting workshops on various themes from parenting to spirituality. In the Yukon she has worked closely with the Skookum Jim Friendship Centre, developing the prenatal program. She has operated summer camps for children and sits on a number of boards and committees. Pearl was made a Member of the Order of Canada in 2007.

Pierre Berton Chancellor 1989-1993

Pierre Berton was Chancellor of Yukon College from July 1989 to November 1993. He was born in Whitehorse, Yukon in 1920. Pierre was the son of a gold-seeker and worked in the Klondike mining camps during his university years. He then served four years in the army at the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario. He went on to become an editor and columnist at newspapers and magazines, a television personality and an author. His books range from anthologies, to narratives of the North, to children's books. Pierre is now among Canada's most well-known authors with 50 published books, many of which are considered Canadian classics. He received a number of honorary degrees and literary awards. He is a Companion of the Order of Canada and was inducted into Canada's Hall of Fame in 1998. Pierre passed away in 2004 in Toronto, Ontario after publishing his last book entitled, Pioneers of the North, which was a collection of biographical sketches on five of Canada's northern explorers. Yukon College offers a scholarship in his honour.