SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A former resident of Behchoko who won big in the lottery is giving back to the NWT communities he used to call home.

Monfwi MLA Jackson Lafferty accepts a cheque for $100,000 from former Behchoko resident Seguro Ndabene, in the Great Hall of the legislative assembly on Friday, Dec. 11. The money will be put towards a number of projects for Tlicho communities. - Cara Loverock/NNSL photo

"I feel my success in life came through the Dogrib land, and company (I worked for)," said Seguro Ndabene. A former employee of Nishi-Khon Forestry Service, Ndabene came to Canada from Mozambique in 1984 and moved to Behchoko from Victoria, B.C., six years later.

"During my time there I felt at home," said Ndabene, now a resident of Alberta.

"I came from nowhere and landed in a good community where I felt I was part of that community."

The multiple lotto winner's latest victory came when he won a court case against the Western Canada Lottery Corp., as it chose not to fight his claim to a $17 million prize - Ndabene's fifth lottery win. His previous winnings were $1 million in 2004, $100,000 in 2006, $1 million in 2008 and $50,000 the same year.

Ndabene is donating $100,000 of his winnings to four NWT communities - Behchoko, Whati, Gameti and Wekweeti. The funds will go toward upgrading the community cemeteries and Behchoko's St. Michael's Church, a Christmas feast in Behchoko and improving the grave of Behchoko's Charlie Charlo.

Charlo was president of Nishi-Khon and hired Ndabene.

"He was always fighting for me," said Ndabene of Charlo. "He gave me a lot of advice."

Part of the donation will also be put toward an education fund for Charlo's two daughters, Charlotte and Cheralyn.

"If I get better in life I have to help the community in one way or the other," said Ndabene, adding he had decided what the money should go toward as he was familiar with the communities.

"These are the needs of the community. I learned that while I was there," he said.

"I'm remembering them," added Ndabene of the upgrades to the cemeteries.

MLA for Monfwi, Jackson Lafferty, accepted the cheque on behalf of the communities at the legislative assembly in Yellowknife on Dec. 11.

Ndabene "is paying his respect back to the community," said Lafferty.. "I think I speak on behalf of all Tlicho citizens for how grateful they are, and I'm grateful (for the donation)."

Lafferty added the funding will be a great gift to the community residents for Christmas.