Johnny W. Abel (1947 – 1995)

Johnny Abel was born in Old Crow. He served as chief of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation from 1978 to 1984. He represented the Old Crow electoral district in the Yukon Legislature from 1992 to 1995. Johnny Abel was a member of the Yukon Party and was elected Deputy Speaker of the House in 1992. He worked to bring about First Nation land claim agreements and to protect the Porcupine caribou herd. NDP Leader Piers McDonald remembered Johnny Abel as a respected chief, trapper, and community leader. ¹⁾