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 A new arena is in sight for Lutsel K'e after the band signed a joint venture agreement with Nahanni Construction, Wednesday. Left to right unveiling the partnership's new sign are Chief Archie Catholique, band leader Terri Enzoe, acting band manager Rita Catholique, Nahanni Construction president and owner Bob Morgan, and Ken Szarkowicz, vice-president Nahanni Construction (not pictured). - Chris Hunsley/NNSL photo |
The projects come from an agreement consummated Wednesday, when Lutsel K'e Chief Archie Catholique and band leader Terri Enzoe signed off on a unique joint-venture with Yellowknife-based Nahanni Construction.
Diavik Diamond Mines Inc. will act as mentor to coordinate the $4.2 million project.
Both Diavik and Nahanni Construction were the white knights that brought the second ice pad at the Multiplex to early completion.
Diavik acted as financier and project manager for Yellowknife's arena, Nahanni Construction did the actual construction. For the Lutsel K'e project, the mining company donated 12 trailers to the band for use as a construction camp.
All parties hope construction of the 50-100 seat arena, complete with dressing rooms, offices, concession stand, and slightly-smaller-than-NHL-size rink will be finished before 2006.
The ice road is an integral part of the project because it will cut costs instead of supplying materials by barge, therefore speeding construction over the winter.
"Today is the beginning of a friendship with a company that wants to help us," Catholique said. "It's a happy day."
Apart from the new infrastructure, Lutsel K'e will also use the experience to build its human resources capacity to staff and push forward new ventures.
"There's a membership of 700 people here. There's no reason why we should hire from the outside, but that's the reality today," Catholique said.
"But with the arena we're going to build, we can train our own people."
Residents will work side by side with Nahanni's experienced professionals to learn skills from construction to plumbing, financial management to administration.
"They'll learn a lot and hopefully they'll stay with us," said Bob Morgan, president and owner Nahanni Construction, looking forward to this potential labour pool.
Land development, the project's first phase, has already been green-lighted by GNWT Department of Public Works.
