The Acho Dene Koe First Nation and the Government of the Northwest Territories have signed a Memorandum of Agreement on housing to strengthen collaboration and improve housing outcomes for the community of Echaot’l Koe (Fort Liard).
Chief Eugene Hope of the Acho Dene Koe First Nation and the Honourable Lucy Kuptana, minister responsible for Housing N.W.T., signed the agreement in Yellowknife on Jan. 26. The memorandum formalizes cooperation between Housing N.W.T. and the First Nation and builds on past partnerships to guide joint housing priorities.
Under the agreement, a Housing Working Group will be established to prioritize community housing planning and coordinate program delivery for Echaot’l Koe.
The group will bring together community members, government officials and representatives of the First Nation’s economic development corporation to work on advancing housing planning, coordinating program delivery, planning construction and repair of housing units, improving programs and services, strengthening procurement and data sharing, and exploring joint housing service delivery to maximize collective efforts.
The agreement provides a clear structure to identify and implement practical housing solutions for residents of Echaot’l Koe.
“Collaboration with Indigenous governments is a cornerstone to advancing priorities,” Kuptana said in a statement. “This memorandum of agreement on housing will strengthen our government-to-government relationship with Echaot’l Koe and empower us to co-develop housing solutions that reflect local priorities.”
“This agreement is an important step forward for our people,” Hope said. “By working together with Housing N.W.T., we are creating a path to improve housing in Echaot’l Koe (Fort Liard) that reflects our community’s priorities and values.”
Over the past four years, Housing N.W.T. has signed intergovernmental housing agreements with the Tłı̨chǫ Government, Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated, the Délįnę Got’ine Government and the Gwich’in Tribal Council.
