Lucy Kuptana

Member Nunakput

Minister Responsible for Housing Northwest Territories
Minister Responsible for the Status of Women

Lucy Kuptana was elected to the 20th Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories in November 2023 to represent the constituency of Nunakput, which includes the communities of Paulatuk, Sachs Harbour, Tuktoyaktuk, and Ulukhaktok. A member of the Executive Council, she is the Minister Responsible for Housing Northwest Territories and the Minister Responsible for the Status of Women.

Prior to her election, Mrs. Kuptana was the Senior Administrative Officer for the Hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk. She was also a director with the Tuktoyaktuk District Education Authority.

For 22 years previous, Mrs. Kuptana was the Director of Operations, Communications, and Culture with the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation (IRC). In a volunteer capacity, she has served as a director of the Inuvik Homeless Shelter Society, trustee of the Arctic Inspiration Prize, president of the Inuvialuit Communications Society, director of the Inuvialuit Investment Corporation, director of the Tuktoyaktuk and Inuvik Community Corporations, and a committee member for the 2023 Northern Youth Games “Inuvialuit Piuyausiat” in Tuktoyaktuk.

Originally from Aklavik and raised at her family’s bush camp in the Mackenzie Delta, Mrs. Kuptana obtained a Level II and Level III Certificate in Community Administration from Aurora College in the early 1990s and returned to graduate with a Diploma in Business Administration and Management in 2013. Mrs. Kuptana is currently enrolled with Yukon University, where she is working towards accreditation in the school’s First Nations Governance and Public Administration program.

Despite a successful career spanning decades, Mrs. Kuptana credits her husband and family in supporting her. She says she owes much of her success to those who have fought – and continue to fight – for Indigenous and Inuvialuit rights.

Mrs. Kuptana’s guiding principle is to lead with respect, empathy, knowledge, and the willingness to work hard for the constituents she represents and all residents of the Northwest Territories.

Nunakput Electoral District

Committees

Public Accounts
Lucy Kuptana
Nunakput
Member's Office

Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9
Canada

P.O. Box
1320
Email
Email
Phone
(867) 767-9143
Minister
Email
Email
Minister Responsible for Housing Northwest Territories, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 83)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize Emily Kudluk from Ulukhaktok and Beverly Amos from Ikaahuk, Sachs Harbour. Thank you for joining us today and good to see you both. Also I would like to recognize Anna Pingo, Marla Pissuk and Debra English. Nice to see you all.

Minister's Statement 181-20(1): Homelessness Strategy
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 82)

Mr. Speaker, today I would like to recognize the Government of the Northwest Territories' progress in advancing transitional housing initiatives and improving shelter operations across the North, as guided by A Way Home: A Comprehensive Strategy to Address Homelessness in the Northwest Territories.

In recent months, with the support of our partners, we have made meaningful advancements in addressing chronic homelessness in the NWT. I want to reaffirm our dedication to working together to find northern solutions that support and protect our most vulnerable residents.

Increasing transitional and...

Question 1054-20(1): Status of Winter Road Resupply to Fort Good Hope Housing Projects
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 81)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Of course, Mr. Speaker, we're willing to work together with the MLA to provide this important information. I think that updates with dates and times available is good information to share, that he could share to community and businesses along the way. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 1047-20(1): Supports for Unhoused Encampments
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 81)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Housing NWT is a social agency so we provide social supports, especially to those that are living in encampments or living in shelters. This issue is more of an enforcement issue so I suggest the question go to the City of Yellowknife, the RCMP, or any other criminal agency. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 1047-20(1): Supports for Unhoused Encampments
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 81)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, thank you to the Member for the question. In terms of supports for the encampments, Housing NWT does not provide any material supports at this time. We do provide counselling advice, supports, and also discussions with the encampment folks, offering them to move over to the shelters, working with our shelter operators. So there's ongoing discussions but in terms of supports, Housing NWT does not provide those supports at this time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 1054-20(1): Status of Winter Road Resupply to Fort Good Hope Housing Projects
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 81)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you to the Member for the question.

In terms of working with NDL and the client in assisting for materials over the winter road, what we're hoping with Housing NWT is that we work in coordination to make sure that all materials required for the Fort Good Hope Construction Centre, working with the client and working with the business itself, that they make -- that all materials make the winter road and that's a priority. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 1047-20(1): Supports for Unhoused Encampments
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 81)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The government is not -- is providing action, not not demonstrating action. I find that statement not true. And I just want to be clear that Housing NWT is leading with homelessness, the homelessness file, the encampments. And it's a very difficult file, Mr. Speaker, and we can't force people to move into shelters. They're welcome to encamp or camp on Commissioner's land, and we provide that support and advice. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 1018-20(1): Aspen Apartments Project Update
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 79)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Aspen Apartments, like I indicated earlier this week, there's been some electrical issues. Individual tenants would have their own power meters so they had to rework that out, and they were having issues with that, having tenants move over. That work has been done, and they're hoping to get them moved in over the next couple of weeks. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 1018-20(1): Aspen Apartments Project Update
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 79)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in Yellowknife we have over 300 families on the waitlist and we'll have to do some reassignments, but of course Aspen Apartments will be full. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 992-20(1): Aspen Apartments
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 77)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Member for the question. Aspen Apartments was an ongoing renovation for the last couple of years, and we did have the opening. And with that opening, though, we found that there were some electrical that still needed to be done, so we delayed moving clients in. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.