SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Ndilo's dusty dirt roads will finally be paved this summer, after decades of waiting.

Chief Ted Tsetta said a start date hasn't been set but when the roadwork begins, it will be done by his own people.

Darcy Tetso and Amanda Sangris walk their children, 16-month-old Nolen, left, and four-month-old Rylen, on the dusty streets of Ndilo on Friday. Paving of Ndilo’s roads will begin this summer, a project long awaited by residents. - Nicole Veerman/NNSL photo

"I said to the city, 'I don't want other people to come into my community and let them take our jobs away and our contracts away,'" said Tsetta. "I said to them directly that it's gotta be my business arm before it goes to anybody else, so they agreed to that."

A contract has not been signed for the project, but Tsetta said Det'on Cho Corporation, the business arm of the Yellowknives Dene, will take it on.

In a historic agreement signed by the city and the Yellowknives Dene last summer, the two parties agreed to split the cost of paving. The city will provide $705,000 from the capital fund over three years for the project, and the Yellowknives Dene will provide the remaining $695,000.

City administrator Bob Long said in a council meeting that by splitting the cost, it helps the city get more done.

"This is an opportunity for us to deal with (Ndilo) in a timely matter," he said.

The city will be transferring its contribution to the project to the Ndilo band, so it can handle the paving project, said Dennis Kefalas, director of public works.

"We actually have an agreement with them where the city will be transferring the money to them, to allow them to spend it," he said in council.

He said the agreement includes a clause that says the First Nation cannot exceed the $1.4 million price tag for the project.

Tsetta said it's important that his people do the work.

"It has to be community driven and why should we let outside contractors come in?" he asked.

"It won't look good on us. It won't look good on the community. It won't look good on the leadership if we let somebody else come into our community and do the work for us."

The main road that loops through the community is first on the list to be paved, and secondary roads will follow in 2012.

"I'm so happy it's going to get done," said Tsetta.

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