Dene Nation calls on feds to give housing dollars directly to communities

The Dene Nation is calling on the federal government to provide housing funds directly to communities in the Northwest Territories as part of a strategy to help address the territory's housing crisis.

During a Sept. 29 press conference, Dene National Chief Norman Yakeleya said the nation wants to see an approach to housing that more easily gives Indigenous people the ability to own their own homes.

"We're not too happy with the territorial government's approach – we want ownership for our people, and not government ownership. People want to own and live in their own homes," he said.

"We have a way out, and that's our strategy."

The strategy in question is something the Dene Nation has been crafting through a committee of chiefs. It looks to put Dene leaders at the forefront of housing discussions, train up young Dene people to build and maintain homes, and ensure proper levels of funding exist for Indigenous housing needs.

"We want to give voice to our leadership and how funding is allocated to the Northwest Territories, and we've been advocating strongly that it has to be directly funded to the First Nation governments and communities," he said.

He added the Dene Nation has been in discussions with the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation (NWTHC) about the strategy.