Honouring Lorraine Joe: A Legacy of Leadership and Generosity in Yukon
- Mar 6
- 2 min read
The Yukon Foundation is deeply saddened by the passing of Lorraine Joe a remarkable leader whose vision and generosity helped shape our early growth.
Lorraine was the longtime manager of Yukon Indian Craft Ltd., a non-profit organization incorporated to promote the craft industry in the Yukon. When the organization was wound down, there remained $40,000 in its bank account. As required, the assets of a dissolving non-profit must be transferred to another charitable organization or foundation. Lorraine made a thoughtful and forward-looking decision: she entrusted those funds to the Yukon Foundation so they could continue to serve Yukon communities.
With that gift, she established what was then known as the Yukon Indian Heritage Fund now the Yukon First Nations Heritage Fund, to support the educational needs of Indigenous children and to help preserve and strengthen cultural heritage. In the year that followed, other donors were inspired to contribute, growing the Fund and expanding its impact.
Lorraine understood something powerful: when an organization comes to an end, its mission does not have to. Through the Yukon Foundation, charitable assets can continue to work for future generations, carrying forward the values and purposes that first inspired them.
Her passing is a profound loss for the territory. Lorraine’s leadership, cultural commitment, and belief in community will be remembered with gratitude and respect.
We extend our sincere condolences to her family, friends, and all those whose lives she touched.
If you would like to contribute to the Yukon First Nations Heritage Fund in memory of Lorraine, donate here.
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