Arctic Red River (Feb 20/06) - George Niditchie's greatest concern these days is making sure the water flooding his property doesn't reach his cabin.

George Niditchie points to where he used his axe and shovel to carve out a small creek to divert water from his cabin only 10 metres away. - John King/NNSL photo

"The flooding started a week ago, but it's been a problem before," Niditchie said.

That's why the Gwich'in elder spent every day since the flooding started trying to divert the water down into the river.

"I've been creating a little creek with an axe and shovel to keep the water away from my cabin," Niditchie said.

Living on the west side of the Arctic Red River just a few kilometres outside of Tsiigehtchic, Niditchie's home is a long stretch of land that runs from the river's edge up to his cabin.

His cabin overlooks the valley, where the Arctic Red River and the Mackenzie River converge.

The Dempster Highway runs parallel to the elder's property up a sloped hill where the highway carries on to Fort McPherson.

But despite the scenic view, Niditchie's home is being threatened by melting ice and snow.

"There is a lake on top of the hill," said Gurdev Jagpal, regional superintendent of highways.

"The lake doesn't drain every year, but because there's lots of snow on the lake this year, there is an excessively high overflow."

While this could very well be the case, Mickey Andre, a friend of Niditchie's, says the problem stems from a culvert at the top of the hill.

Andre called Jagpal to ask the Department of Transportation to do something to help Niditchie.

But he says the transportation official blew him off, telling Andre the flooding isn't their problem.

"The culvert at the top of the hill is too small, so it's freezing and the water can't drain through, so it goes down the hill," explained Andre.

The natural slope of the hill leads the water to within dangerous proximity of Niditchie's cabin.

"The stream running down the hill has turned into a flood path," Niditchie said.

In some places the water is four feet deep, said the elder. "Half the Cat (Caterpillar) here earlier was in the water," explained Niditchie.

Road crews arrived at Niditchie's home Feb. 15 after a request to fix the flooding was made by the NWT Housing Corporation.

Jagpal says fixing the flooding problem isn't the DOT's responsibility. "The house was built by the housing corporation, so they're spending the money for the repair," Gurdev said. "It's not my project."

Joe Cooke, a project technician with the DOT, is supervising the project to fix the flood .

"The water is out of range for it to be our problem," Cooke said.

That's because the DOT is only responsible for land within 30m of the road's center line.

Cooke argues the water threatening to flood Niditchie's home is beyond 30m.

But Niditchie points out the source of the problem is the culvert underneath the highway at the top of the hill. "But I'm getting help now, so it should be OK, so long as I don't lose my floor," Niditchie said before chuckling.

Cooke and his road crew will now push all the snow, ice and water to the bottom of the hill. Next they will build up a driveway into Niditchie's property that will act as a dyke. Then crews will put in place a couple of culverts under the driveway so any future overflow can drain down into the river.

For Andre, ensuring the safety of people like Niditchie is not a question of who's responsibility it is, but a matter of working together.

"We have to start taking care of our elders," Andre said. "Just because he lives across the river doesn't mean he's not part of the community."

The district housing director for the NWT Housing Corporation could not be reached for comment.