K'atlodeeche First Nation is still searching for more money to build a natural ice arena on the Hay River Reserve.
Peter Groenen, the chief executive officer for the band, said it has about half of the approximately $5 million from its regular funding agreements.
And now it is preparing a submission to Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC).
"INAC has said they would help us look for the money and they asked us to submit a proposal," said Groenen.
Basically, INAC will look to see if there is any money available for the project.
Groenen said he is hopeful about the involvement of INAC.
"It's got potential," he said. "I mean we haven't got anything identified yet. We're looking for some different pots that weren't available before."
The concept is to build an arena with natural ice and a regulation size rink.
An attached service area would include washrooms, dressing rooms and a canteen.
Plus the facility would feature a youth centre. Currently, the reserve's youth centre is a small log building that used to be an adult education centre.
The targeted location is a large field across the road from the Chief Lamalice Complex and next to Chief Sunrise Education Centre.
"We think that it will be a very good addition to our community over here," said Groenen. "I think it will also help strengthen relationships between people in the two communities because there will be a lot of cross usage."
First Nation has written the Town of Hay River for a letter of support to include with the proposal it will be submitting to INAC.
"We think that they'll be one of our larger users because there's a big shortage of ice time there," said Groenen. "I mean they're building a new arena, but they still only have one sheet of ice."
Hay River town council discussed the request for a letter of support at its meeting on Nov. 14.
Coun. Keith Dohey asked if the First Nation's search for funding would be in conflict with any application that might be made by the Town of Hay River.
Judy Goucher, the town's senior administrative officer, said she would confirm that before any letter of support is sent.
"And if there's a conflict in terms of an application that the town is proposing to submit, we'll come back to council before we go any further with this," Goucher said.
