First Nation says it marks a step toward establishing housing department
Five new modular duplexes — totalling 10 homes — were officially unveiled in a new Łutselk’e, N.W.T. subdivision earlier this month, shortening the local housing waitlist drastically.
Unlike public housing, the multi-family residential developments are owned and operated entirely by the Łutsel K’e Dene First Nation.
According to James Marlowe, chief of the LKDFN, leadership created an internal maintenance fund supported by low monthly tenant contributions to handle ongoing upkeep without territorial management. He wouldn’t say the amount tenants were contributing.
“The rental fee that is paid is going to go towards a pool where if something happens to the unit — like a freeze-up or a deficiency — it will go to hiring maintenance to fix those things,” says Marlowe. “It’s just enough to get by … so we try to be flexible.”
Michael Dawodu, District Director for Housing N.W.T.’s North Slave District Office, said the territory contributed $1.5 million, with Housing N.W.T. contributing just over $1 million through its Community Housing Support Initiative.
Dawodu called the project “a community-led initiative” by the LKDFN. “It demonstrates what’s possible when communities lead and partners like us get involved to provide support.”
Dawodu said the move, which moved five families on the housing waitlist into homes, shortened most of Housing N.W.T.’s local waitlist in Łutselk’e, bringing it down from eight families to three.
Since then, one of those three has also been moved into housing.
Dawodu added that Housing N.W.T. remains open to providing technical or financial backup through existing programs if the First Nation requests support down the road.
With the first 10 units occupied, Marlowe said they have hired a consultant to help secure funding for future multi-bedroom homes, as they move closer to establishing their own formal housing department.
The First Nation does not yet have a formal housing department, band administrative staff are currently managing property oversight and maintenance dispatch.
According to a 2026 territorial government report, 24 per cent of Łutselk’e’s 136 households rely directly on public housing. However, persistent issues with overcrowding and supply shortages have been cited in the past.
To ensure fairness, tenant selection was turned over to an independent committee, prioritizing unhoused residents and families living in severely overcrowded conditions.
Marlowe said homelessness is a priority for him. “Most of the people that got these units either didn’t have a place or lived in an overcrowded house in Łutselk’e,” he said.
The project was done through federal housing grant applications submitted two years ago by LKDFN, alongside support from local contractors, mining companies and regional leaders.
Back in the fall of 2024, the project ran into delays due to ground clearing work, putting off construction to the next year. The unexpected freight cost of moving units from Hay River across Great Slave Lake this summer added to the project’s budget.
Housing N.W.T. and the territorial government covered the barge freight costs.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Federal, territorial gov’ts reach ‘agreement in principle’ to build 560 N.W.T. homes by 2030, Eye on the Arctic
Greenland: Despite housing shortages, Greenland razes colonial apartment blocks, Blog by Mia Bennett
Sweden: Arctic Municipality in Sweden ups recruitment perks with housing, ski passes, bonuses, Radio Sweden
United States: Greenland ‘Freedom City?’ Rich donors push Trump for a tech hub up north, Reuters
