SA国际影视传媒淓normousSA国际影视传媒� housing pressures felt across the territory wonSA国际影视传媒檛 be relieved unless communities are given more control of how federal dollars are spent, says Dene national chief Norman Yakeleya.

SA国际影视传媒淭he relationship with housing and the territorial government SA国际影视传媒� it no longer fits. We know it. We see it in the communities,SA国际影视传媒� Yakeleya told News/North in a recent interview.

SA国际影视传媒淧eople are stuck.SA国际影视传媒�

The current funding flow, which sees the GNWT transfer federal dollars into housing programs run by the NWT Housing Corporation, isnSA国际影视传媒檛 working, said Yakeleya.

He wants to see money from Ottawa directly channeled to communities, so Indigenous governments and their people can decide how to best spend funding to meet the unique challenges they face.

SA国际影视传媒淭he Dene want a much greater role in the critical area of housing in our communities,SA国际影视传媒� said Yakeleya, adding Indigenous governments need to be involved at the SA国际影视传媒渇ront endSA国际影视传媒� of funding decisions.

SA国际影视传媒淚t is no longer acceptable to have the territorial government unilaterally decide how money is spent. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 2019. Those days are over.SA国际影视传媒�

To relieve what Yakeleya calls a SA国际影视传媒渄ependencySA国际影视传媒� on social housing experienced by some community members, he said the Dene Nation is developing a pilot project that, with direct federal funding, would help residents build their own homes SA国际影视传媒� placing the tools to rebuild independence back in their own hands.

SA国际影视传媒淥ur people are very proud. They want their own houses,SA国际影视传媒� said Yakeleya.

SA国际影视传媒淭hey want to contribute to building our own houses by using our own timber and preparing the logs to build it,SA国际影视传媒� he continued.

SA国际影视传媒淭he Dene Nation wants a new blueprint for housing.SA国际影视传媒�

If changes arenSA国际影视传媒檛 made, said Yakeleya, housing issues SA国际影视传媒� overcrowding, lack of affordability, chronic housing shortages and homelessness SA国际影视传媒� will persist.

Yakeleya says those problems have a cultural impact, too.

SA国际影视传媒淭he worst thing is that we cannot accommodate our elders in our communities,SA国际影视传媒� he said, meaning older community members are often forced to leave, taking with them wisdom their children and grandchildren wonSA国际影视传媒檛 benefit from.

SA国际影视传媒淧oor housing is really hurting our culture as well. We can do much better,SA国际影视传媒� said Yakeleya.

A shift to direct federal funding will also give communities the autonomy to usher in the use of alternative energy sources.

A reliance on costly diesel fuel, especially in isolated communities, further exasperates housing woes in the North, said Yakeleya, who pointed to the success of solar energy use in some NWT communities.

Yakeleya said itSA国际影视传媒檚 time to tell the GNWT its no longer the SA国际影视传媒渉ousing manager of the Dene communities.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e saying SA国际影视传媒榚nough.SA国际影视传媒橲A国际影视传媒�