When the process commenced in 1973, negotiations were conducted between the Department of Indian Affairs and the Council for Yukon Indians. The presence of the Government of Yukon was seen as redundant as they had not yet achieved 'responsible' or representative government and were considered an extension of the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs. By 1979, this had changed, and the Territorial Government had joined the process as a third party. Soon after, the Council for Yukon Indians, the Yukon Association of Non-Status Indians and the Yukon Native Brotherhood amalgamated to form the Council for Yukon Indians. The CYI continued to represent Yukon First Nations in the negotiations process as well as taking on the programs and services delivery, and the political representational role of the two parent organizations. The process was to take up much of the next 20 years until the Umbrella Final Agreement was signed in 1993.