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 1194-20(1): Status Update on Missing and Murdered Women and Girls Advisory Committee
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 90)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Of course I am able to share that with the Member. And I think it's really important that this advisory committee get up and running with its terms of reference. And finalizing the terms of reference was really important. The first step was really crucial and critical to this committee to get formalized. And they've had four meetings to date as an advisory committee, and I can share those results with the Member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 1194-20(1): Status Update on Missing and Murdered Women and Girls Advisory Committee
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 90)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories, we created -- in partnership with NGOs and Indigenous governments, we created a Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls advisory committee in direct response to the Calls for Justice to ensure Indigenous governments, women's organizations, and 2SLGBQ2IA+ organizations have an ongoing and formal role advising government on implementation. Members are appointed directly by Indigenous governments, ensuring legitimacy and community-driven leadership in shaping our collective response. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 1194-20(1): Status Update on Missing and Murdered Women and Girls Advisory Committee
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 90)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Of course I am able to share the roles and responsibilities of the advisory committee, including providing advice and guidance to the implementation of the action plan to support the work towards addressing the effects of colonization, as well as racial and gender discrimination at all levels of government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister's Statement 199-20(1): International Women's Day 2026
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 90)

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge International Women's Day, held on March 8th, to celebrate women's social, cultural, and political achievements throughout history and across nations. International Women's Day also provides the opportunity to showcase commitments towards gender equality, raise awareness of the gaps that persist, and highlight initiatives that promote gender equity. The 2026 theme for International Women's Day is Give to Gain, encouraging generosity and collaboration to advance gender equality.

This theme emphasizes the power of mutual support, and supporting women...

Question 1182-20(1): Naming of the 50th Street 50-Plex
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 89)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the deadline was set. It was set for February 8th, from what I understand, and there was a number of applications, and those are now with the honours advisory committee. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 1182-20(1): Naming of the 50th Street 50-Plex
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 89)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker, Housing NWT and this government received a number of applications for naming of buildings, of the two buildings, so these applications have gone before the honours advisory committee. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 1182-20(1): Naming of the 50th Street 50-Plex
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 89)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the honours advisory committee has been given the applications and the naming of these two buildings here in downtown Yellowknife, so it's really the administration with the honours advisory committee to set up the meetings themselves. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister's Statement 197-20(1): Repairs to Social Housing Units
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 89)

Mr. Speaker, Members of this Legislative Assembly have spoken about the importance of repairing our existing social housing units. I want to assure Members and all Northerners that real, measurable progress is happening. Today I will highlight the work Housing NWT and local housing organizations have done over the past year in repairing and improving social housing units across the NWT.

Since the start of this fiscal year, 278 social housing units across the territory have received much-needed repairs through collaboration between Housing NWT, local housing organizations, and contractors. These...

Question 1163-20(1): Homeownership Support Programming
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 88)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I feel like Minister Semmler today. I am going to have some water.

So related to the question -- thank you to the Member for the question -- solutions to educate people, which was the STEP program, was discontinued in 2023. It was a requirement to complete prior to accessing homeownership programs. STEP was discontinued because some of the modules were outdated and resources are now available online, such as budgeting and home purchase information. The home maintenance module was also part of the program but was determined to be a barrier to access programs as there are...

Question 1162-20(1): Build Canada Homes Applications
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 88)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as a Minister of this government, I am responsible to work with rights-based organizations in this territory. And I've never said that I am not willing to work with Dene Nation to have these conversations, but I encourage the Member to work with the Akaitcho chiefs to provide a Build Canada Homes proposal with the Akaitcho chiefs. And if he's interested, we could provide that support. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.