The City of Yellowknife has apologized for giving cigarettes to homeless people and calling it a culturally-appropriate incentive. 

In October, municipal workers conducted a point-in-time count, a project that helps measure homelessness in Yellowknife. In an email to SA¹ú¼ÊÓ°ÊÓ´«Ã½ on Nov. 26, the city admitted that it used cigarettes as incentive to help complete its survey.

Much of Yellowknife's homeless population is Indigenous and the city said giving homeless people cigarettes was a culturally-appropriate incentive.

Dettah Chief Ernest Betsina criticized the city for its comments, arguing they had racist undertones. He also said the municipality seemed to be leveraging people's addictions and called it "disturbing."

He added that the Yellowknives Dene First Nation's (YKDFN's) use of tobacco is entirely different for cultural purposes.

"We don't give out cigarettes just for the sake of it and to promote cigarette smoking. No, we don't do that as YKDFN," Betsina stressed.

In an email to SA¹ú¼ÊÓ°ÊÓ´«Ã½, Stacia Kean, a communications person for the city, sent the following message:

"The City of Yellowknife acknowledges Chief Betsina's concerns and takes them seriously. Instruction has been given to ensure that this practice does not occur again. The city regrets any harm these actions may have caused."

Kean's email adds that the count of homeless individuals remains an important mechanism to understand the challenges faced by vulnerable populations.

"Going forward, we will look to ensure participation and engagement is better aligned with culturally-appropriate norms in our community," Kean's email reads.