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

Question 191-20(1): Replacing Houses Lost in Fort Resolution Fire
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 16)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Unfortunately, there is a number of displaced families in the community of Fort Resolution because of the fire on Saturday. Housing NWT is working very diligently to ensure that all families have homes over the next couple of days. And the great thing is Fort Resolution had some vacant units, so they are looking at accommodating those families. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 191-20(1): Replacing Houses Lost in Fort Resolution Fire
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 16)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I understand where the chief is coming from in terms of local economy and local built homes. The situation is Housing NWT is facing a fiscal crisis where we need more than we have. We don't have the money to stick build homes. Modular units are much more affordable, and they are much more efficient in terms of timing into the communities. So that's the situation we're in at this time, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Question 188-20(1): Affordable Housing for Elders
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 16)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What Housing NWT can do is we can look at the cases, again, with elders that are facing arrears and follow up with the Member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 185-20(1): Addressing Homelessness and Housing as a Human Right
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 16)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as noted earlier, Housing NWT has signed a collaborative agreement with the Gwich'in Tribal Council since the beginning of the 20th Assembly. Housing NWT has also had meetings with communities, such as Fort Resolution, to discuss either formal or informal agreements to work together on housing priorities. We continue to work with housing working groups established in communities, such as Fort Good Hope, to support work of the K’asho Got’ine Housing Society. Housing NWT is also working with community organizations on community housing support initiatives to...

Question 185-20(1): Addressing Homelessness and Housing as a Human Right
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 16)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Housing NWT is supporting the Department of Executive and Indigenous Affairs, who is the lead on implementation of A Way Home. Housing NWT is supporting the work of an interdepartmental working group to implement that strategy, and our work has included supporting statistical analysis on homelessness, preparing for transition of shelters, and some programs currently implemented by Housing NWT, as well as working on looking for partnership solutions to see housing built to better meet the needs of vulnerable populations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Oral Question 158-20(1): Collaboration with Indigenous Governments on Mackenzie Delta Home Renovations
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 14)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister of education could take this question as well. She's a big part of it, and she's the one advancing the work with the other departments.

But, yes, this is something that we talk about often, how we can work together as departments, looking at bringing in advancing capacity, looking at more apprenticeships throughout the North, and just the entire labour workforce, how we can help boost that -- the workforce throughout the North. So, yes, we're willing to do that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Oral Question 158-20(1): Collaboration with Indigenous Governments on Mackenzie Delta Home Renovations
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 14)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And with the reference to working directly with community governments, we can do that. We can talk, and we can have discussions.

In terms of vacant units and those that could be renovated and have a move-in phase, I mean, we can look at that and provide those numbers to the Member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Oral Question 157-20(1): Affordability of Seniors Housing
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 14)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, yes, we're willing to send a team down to assist those seniors that need assistance.

Oral Question 157-20(1): Affordability of Seniors Housing
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 14)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Member for the question. Unfortunately, we can't offer that at this time. The agreement was with CMHC. That agreement has sun-setted. So Housing NWT was administering that agreement on behalf of CMHC, and that agreement has expired. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Oral Question 158-20(1): Collaboration with Indigenous Governments on Mackenzie Delta Home Renovations
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 14)

Mr. Speaker, at this time I think that we'd be willing to work with anyone interested in advancing housing in the Northwest Territories. So if a local Indigenous government is willing to talk to us, meet with us, they have ideas, of course we'd be willing to work together. We do have some SEED money that we can partner with to look at potential federal funds, so we're willing to do that. So thank you, Mr. Speaker.