SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - In February, the pipes in 91-year-old Elise Liske's house froze.

At first the Ndilo woman moved into Chateau Nova. Then, after staying there for two months, she found a downtown apartment with her two sons.

Peter Laserich and Fred Liske stand outside the Liske's house, which they were forced to leave after its pipes froze in February. - Lauren McKeon/NNSL photo

According to her and her two-live in sons, William and Fred, she's now waiting for compensation promised to her by Chief Fred Sangris.

The band has a duty to help elders with their problems, said William, 58.

"They're supposed to give them a hand. And we had a problem. I just don't know why they're not helping us."

The log-house, which is currently covered by blue siding, was built in 1936 by William and Fred's grandfather, said Fred.

Until she was forced out, his mother smoked and cut fish in the backyard, put up their tipi and worked with moose and caribou hide, he added.

Unable to walk well and stuck on the second floor of the apartment building, she now does "nothing" Fred said.

The Liskes' long-time neighbour and friend, and William's boss of almost 20 years, is likewise frustrated. Paul Laserich of Adlair Air has been helping the Liskes in their attempt to get something done.

In addition to getting compensation for their hotel stay, the Liske's top priority is to get Elise's house fixed. Fred estimates that he and his brother have spent $10,000 on rent and hotel bills since her mother was forced to leave her home.

"(The band) says they do things for their elders," Laserich said. "Well here's one lady who is 91-years-old who wants to go back to her house. She's (been) staying up in a hotel renting and they don't give a darn about it."

He added he's been trying to help William ever since he found out about the senior Liske's forced move-out, but has had little luck.

"We're still waiting to see what the chief is going to do at our place," said William. "Nobody seems to do nothing about it. We just miss our place."

Yellowknifer calls to Chief Sangris were directed to Yellowknives CEO John Carter, who paints a different picture.

"Basically, what we have is a really unfortunate situation and the band is caught between a rock and a hard place," said Carter.

According to Carter, the problem is Liske's home is privately-owned, not publicly. If it were publicly-owned, it would unquestionably be the band's responsibility to pay for repairs, he said.

"If you own your own house, you're supposed to have house insurance," said Carter. "If your pipes freeze then, well, that's what house insurance is for," he said, adding that in Liske's case there was no home insurance.

He is afraid if he were to help out the Liskes too much, he would set a precedent the First Nation would be unable to follow. Carter also added the band has paid back taxes on Liske's home, in an amount he called "considerable."

Moreover, said Carter, Elise has two sons living with her, both with jobs. Another son is former Dettah chief Peter Liske.

"Why is it somehow the band's responsibility?" Carter asked.

Carter likened the situation to taking care of his own 85-year-old mother, should he need to put her in a nursing home.

"Would I have the expectation that the government should pay for that? Absolutely not. Why would I? I'm in a position to pay and should."

Even so, Carter said the band is trying to get the woman into public housing in Ndilo - though there is currently no space - or into a home for the elderly, for which there is also currently no openings.