How the Nahɂą Dehé Dene Band is building for Nahanni Butte’s future

While you may not initially be able to tell from walking its quiet streets, the tiny Dehcho hamlet of Nahanni Butte is a busy one.

Over the past several years, community leaders have been working to address some of residents’ most pressing needs – such as housing and education infrastructure – while building for the community’s future, one that is inevitably tied to tourism.

The hamlet’s general store provides a resupply stop for travellers accessing the Nahanni National Park Reserve or beginning hunting excursions in the neighbouring Mackenzie Mountains.

Now, leaders are looking to use the natural resources around them to help attract tourist dollars to their community.

Addressing overcrowding

Over the past four years, the Nahɂą Dehé Dene Band has leveraged federal funding to add 15 units to the community’s housing stock.

The modular units were built in Lethbridge, Alberta, before being trucked up on the winter road, Chief Steve Vital said.

All of the units have been offered on a rent-to-own basis, creating a pathway to homeownership for low-income residents.

“Basically, people will pay rent for 10 years – a very subsidized rent – and after 10 years they will own those buildings,” said band manager Soham Srimani.

Another four units were built by Housing NWT during the same period, Srimani added.

Chief Vital said these new homes helped to address a serious housing supply issue.

“We dealt with all the overcrowding – the younger generation still living with mom and dad, starting a family of their own,” said Vital.

In addition to building new homes, the Nahɂą Dehé Dene Band has implemented a home renovation program, facilitated by funding from Housing NWT and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada.

Shortly after Srimani began his role in 2021, the band conducted a study of the existing homes in the community.

“The conditions were not so great,” said Srimani.

Since then, Srimani estimates 70 to 80 percent of the 44 homes in the community that are privately owned, or owned by the band, have taken advantage of the program, with six undergoing major renovation.

Srimani said this could include fixing roof or plumbing issues, making homes more accessible and addressing mould and flooring issues.

He said the program has been successful in part because the band has dedicated housing staff to help manage projects.

While getting skilled labour into the community to help carry out repairs has cost more than it would in the south, Srimani said he hasn’t encountered any issues with finding that labour in the first place.

Over the past three years, he said he and other band staff have worked to establish a database of general contractors, carpenters, plumbers, furnace technicians and more who are available to work in the community.

When they do come to town, Srimani said, a community member or two will usually shadow them while they work to gain first-hand experience and build capacity within the community.

Rebuilding the school

In June, the territorial government, Dehcho Divisional Education Council and Nahɂą Dehé Dene Band announced they would evaluate the condition of Nahanni Butte’s school and decide whether plans should be drawn up for a new building.

Chief Vital said the existing infrastructure is ageing and the building has slowly sunk into the ground.

He said he’d like to see proper classrooms for various age groups instead of the two-room building the students have now.

In the next academic year, he said, the school will offer Grade 12 courses for the first time, meaning students won’t have to relocate to Fort Simpson to complete their high school education.

He said this will be possible because additional teachers have been hired, though he said the teachers’ residence in town is also in need of renovation or repair, as it was constructed around the same time as the school.

Vital said he thinks community members would have had a higher graduation rate in the past if they had the opportunity to finish high school at home.

Encouraging a longer stay

Every summer, the tiny hamlet welcomes an estimated 1,000 tourists through the community – representing about 10 times the regular population.

Srimani said he’s seen a boom in visitors since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Vital and Srimani say they’re working to build a campground with washroom and laundry facilities on the edge of town, to help encourage those passing through to spend more time in the community.

The campground could one day include seasonal accommodation for those who might not want to stay in a tent.

“Whenever they are back from the park, they can just take a rest, wash their clothes, just get freshened up, have some food,” said Srimani.

This would likely mean more money spent at the general store and on crafts made by local artisans, Srimani said.

He would also like to see Elders involved in programming for tourists such as storytelling and discussions about history and culture.

While a site for the campground has been cleared and used a few times, there aren’t yet any permanent structures on it.

In the meantime, Vital said, he has occasionally offered space at the hamlet’s gym for groups of paddlers who want a break from the bugs and use of washroom facilities.

This option is available in addition to rooms offered at the general store and hotel, which recently opened a second wing that nearly doubled its capacity, Srimani said.

With all of these projects under way, Srimani credits Vital with helping to grow staff capacity within the band.

“When I started in 2021, I had seven or eight members working with me,” said Srimani.

“Right now, my team is 33 members strong, plus chief and council support. Having the right team makes my life really easy.”