The healing camp serves as a refuge for troubled families and individuals and is used for counselling those traumatized by residential school abuse.

Located about 120 miles from Inuvik, but only 20 miles away from Fort McPherson, the camp is accessible by boat in the summer and ice road during the winter months.

Gwich'in Tribal Council president Fred Carmichael said the camp was rarely being used because of its distance from Inuvik.

The Tetlit Gwich'in Council of Fort McPherson expressed interest in acquiring the camp at the Gwich'in Assembly in August and delegates unanimously agreed it was a good idea.

Board members for teh Gwich'in Tribal Council gave final approval of the transfer on Dec. 16 and the deal was finalized on Dec. 19.

Since Fort McPherson was making better use of the camp anyways, Carmichael said the transfer of ownership was a smart move.

"It just makes more operational sense. They've been doing most of the work out of Fort McPherson anyway so it just makes a lot more sense," he said.