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

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.

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.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think the MLA is asking about elders, and this is something she's brought up over the last number of months with many elders that are falling into arrears. I'm sure there's many reasons why elders are falling into arrears, and she has kind of explained some of those reasons. And housing does some analysis with it and does work with clients into why they are falling into arrears. There is some counselling available to clients, especially those elders. So we can provide more information. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister’s Statement 34-20(1): Indigenous Government Partnerships and Capacity Building
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 16)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the only way this government can effectively address the territory's housing crisis is through true partnership with Indigenous governments. As stated in this government's mandate, Indigenous governments play an important role in advancing housing initiatives that meet the unique needs of NWT communities, and we must work closely with them to ensure we are implementing housing solutions that have a real, positive impact on residents.

In this spirit of true partnership, Housing NWT has signed four formal agreements with Indigenous governments that support...

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.