DENINU KU'E/FORT RESOLUTION - The settlement council in Fort Resolution has ambitious plans for a youth centre and accompanying recreational facilities.

"When I think about it, it gives me the shivers," Tausia Kaitu'u-Lal said of on the plan. The Deninoo Community Council senior administrative officer said it is an exciting concept that is without equal in the NWT.

The plan calls for a youth centre to be built on a 54-acre piece of federal Crown land where a sawmill was located until it closed in the mid-'80s. The site would eventually include a track, an outdoor swimming pool, a soccer field, a multi-purpose pad for basketball, tennis and a half-pipe for skateboarders.

The idea of a youth centre has been discussed for many years in Fort Resolution. A few years ago, the GNWT's Community Capacity Building Fund allocated $411,200 to build a youth centre and an old house was targeted for renovation. However, Kaitu'u-Lal said a Youth Centre Building Committee - made up of Deninoo Community Council, the Fort Smith Metis Council, Deninu Ku'e First Nation (DKFN) and youth - determined $411,200 was not enough to create a suitable youth centre.

"They were all in agreement to wait and get some more money," she said.

Recently, the settlement council obtained $1 million for a youth centre from the Build Canada Fund. However, the use of the old sawmill land has yet to be supported by DKFN.

Carol Collins, the lands clerk with Deninoo Community Council, said an application was sent last year to the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs - which administers the land for the federal government - to lease the land and the idea is open for public consultation.

"We can't move forward on it until we get support from the DKFN," she said, adding the idea has the backing of the Metis Council.

DKFN Acting Chief Louis Balsillie expressed a number of concerns about the feasibility of the proposed project, saying it may be too big for a small community. He said they may close if funding can't be obtained in the future to run the youth centre and other proposed facilities.

"Our kids will be put on the streets again because there won't be a youth centre," he said, adding the community already has a struggle to operate an arena.

Balsillie said the DKFN supports a youth centre. He suggested locating it a more modest facility, possibly something in two double-wide trailers. The acting chief also suggested using some of the available funding to upgrade existing recreational facilities, such as the ball diamond.

"Do you think that duplicating what we have today is a benefit for our kids?" he said.

Balsillie also said, as a parent, he is concerned about the proposed location on the edge of Fort Resolution instead of in the centre of community, adding he would worry about children walking along the highway, especially in winter. The acting chief is suggesting a community meeting be held to discuss the Deninoo Community Council's plans.

Despite his concerns, he said he would support the project if it has the backing of the community.

Kaitu'u-Lal said Deninoo Community Council is in favour of the old sawmill site, and would consider holding a public meeting to share more information on the idea.

The administrator also believes the proposed project is not too big for Fort Resolution.

"I'm sure we can handle it," she said, adding hard work will have to be done in the future to obtain operational funding through fundraisers and possibly the rental of office space in a new youth centre.

As for using some of the funding to upgrade existing recreational facilities, Kaitu'u-Lal said the money has been earmarked for a youth centre. "We need to move forward with those projects as per funding requirements," she said.

If the community council has its way, a youth centre would be built soon. "We're looking to do that this summer or fall," she said. "As soon as possible."

The council is preparing to call a request for proposals. More construction of recreational facilities at an undetermined cost would follow over the next few years.

"You're looking at one stop for all the recreation activities and interests," Kaitu'u-Lal said.

She said the complex would be a big improvement over the scattered and small recreational facilities in the community, which has no swimming pool and a small track and multi-purpose pad behind Deninu School, among other things.

The administrator said there have been concerns and grumblings in the community about why a youth centre has not yet been built.

"It's slow moving, but it's coming, especially now that we have the money," she said.

So far, the community council has pushed leftover wood on the old sawmill site into piles and encouraged community members to take it for firewood. What remains will be taken to the landfill.

It is also in the process of getting geotechnical people to look at the land.

While community leaders work out the details of the project, young people are still waiting to see if a youth centre will ever be built.

"It's a very good idea because the youth now don't have anything to do," said Charlene Giroux, 18, adding young people need a place to call their own.

"They are a little bit frustrated, because they have been talking about it for a while," she said. "They're questioning if it's really going to be built."

Alicea Delorme, 18, supports building a youth centre on the old sawmill land. "There's a lot of open space there," she said.

Lydia Cardinal, 17, said a youth centre and recreational facilities would be good for young people in Fort Resolution. "I can't wait," she said.