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.

Immediately 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 prior, 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 parents and extended family, her husband, her two sons, and her two grandchildren. She says she owes much of her success to her family, the Elders, and 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
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

Minister’s Statement 41-20(1): Fifth Anniversary of the Release of the Final Report of National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 20)

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to acknowledge the Fifth Anniversary of the Release of the Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. The final report describes the dire situation faced by Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBPQIA+ people as genocide, and delivers 231 Calls for Justice directed at governments, institutions, social service providers, industries, and all Canadians.

Mr. Speaker, here in the Northwest Territories, where half of the population is Indigenous, we are all too familiar with the harmful effects of colonialism. From the era of...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 19)

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize two pages from the Nunakput riding. Natalie Joss and Kianna Bernhardt who are both students at the Helen Kalvak Illihapaq in Ulukhaktok. Quyananni, and welcome to Natalie and Kianna for being here today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 18)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I apologize for my hand being late. You were pretty quick. I just want to have an opportunity today to recognize Beverly Amos. Beverly here is visiting us in the House. She's one of our very few Inuvialuktun language experts in the Northwest Territories. There's very few of them left, so I want to take this opportunity to recognize Beverly. Her hometown is Sachs Harbour, Northwest Territories, and she now lives with her husband Lawrence at their cabin at Hans Bay on the InuvikTuktoyaktuk Highway. So welcome, Beverly.

Tabled Document 101-20(1): Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 127-20(1): Policies and Future of Housing Northwest Territories
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 17)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document: Followup Letter for Oral Question 12720(1): Policies and Future of Housing Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 196-20(1): Housing Units Destined for Sahtu
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 17)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to MLA McNeely for the invite. I've met with Fort Good Hope, the K’asho Got’ine Housing Society a couple of times on virtual meetings, but I'd be pleased to meet with them in person. We can discuss dates. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 196-20(1): Housing Units Destined for Sahtu
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 17)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What Housing NWT can confirm, related to the cancellation of the MTS barge to Tulita, was that there was one new duplex scheduled for delivery into Tulita for the 20242025 fiscal year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 196-20(1): Housing Units Destined for Sahtu
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 17)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Minister of health suggested 2027. It will be definitely sooner. We'll talk over the next day or so. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 196-20(1): Housing Units Destined for Sahtu
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 17)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The cancellation of the barge is unfortunate, so we're not able to get much of the supply into the communities in the Sahtu. But what we're able to do and Housing NWT has pivoted to delivering the replacement duplex on the winter road and looking at building it to specifications for winter road travel, and shipping that unit on the 20242025 winter road season to Tulita. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 184-20(1): Affordable Housing for Elders
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 16)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, our district offices, as well as headquarters, Housing NWT headquarters, would provide information to clients that are interested in becoming homeownership clients. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 184-20(1): Affordable Housing for Elders
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 16)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Could she repeat the question, I missed it. Sorry, Mr. Speaker.