'Empowering our people through land ownership': Kwanlin Dn First Nation holds first land lottery - Action News
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'Empowering our people through land ownership': Kwanlin Dn First Nation holds first land lottery

5 residential lots in the Porter Creek neighborhood of Whitehorse are up for grabs for Kwanlin Dn residents and beneficiaries seeking their chance to build a home. Its the first disposition of land since the First Nation's Lands Act came into effect in October 2020.

It's the first land disposition since Kwanlin Dn's Lands Act came into effect in October 2020

Five lots in the Porter Creek neighborhood of Whitehorse are available through Kwanlin Dn's first land lottery. The lots are located on Pine, Walnut and Grove streets, and are marked with the First Nation's settlement land signs. (Mike Rudyk/CBC)

Kwanlin Dncitizens and beneficiaries will have the chance tolease one of five residential lots in the Porter Creek neighborhood of Whitehorse for 125 years at below market prices and build a home thanks to theKwanlinDn First Nation's (KDFN)first land lottery.

It's the first time the nation has put parcels of settlement land up for lottery since the Kwanlin Dn's Lands Act came into effect in October 2020. This act sets rules for the allocation and use of 1,042 square kilometres of KDFN settlement land in Yukon and allows the First Nation to allocate land to citizens for free.

Lottery winners will have the opportunity to lease one of the lots located on Pine, Walnut and Grove streets,based on its developments costs of between$42,325 and $57,250 as opposed to its lease market value. The averagemarket price for a similar lot in Whitehorse is over $150,000.

'Empowering our people through land ownership'

Chief Doris Bill said the Lands Act and the sale of the lots are important steps toward KDFN's economic sustainability.

"Creating these opportunities for home ownership allows us to continue to build a strong and stable future for Kwanlin Dnfamilies," said Bill.

"We are working to close the equity gap and build sustainable wealth for our youth and our future citizens not yet born."

Chief Doris Bill (second from left) announced the Kwanlin Dn First Nation's first land lottery on Sept. 10. Kwanlin Dn citizens and beneficiaries can now apply for five residential lots in the Porter Creek neighborhood of Whitehorse. (Mike Rudy/CBC)

Revenues earned from land development will be used to fund the First Nation's services and programs, said Bill, including grant programs to offset the cost of home ownership for KDFN citizens.

"[We are] empowering our people through land ownership on Kwanlin Dnland and on Kwanlin Dnterms," she said. "This has long been a priority for council and it's an important piece of realizing the vision embedded in our final self-government agreements."

The successful lottery winners will be required to build a house on the lot within three years of signing the lease agreement.

Although the five lots in Porter Creek are only available to KDFN citizens and beneficiaries, Bill said other parcels of settlement land will be offered to the general public at market value next year.

Kwanlin Dn citizens who win the land lottery for five residential lots in the Porter Creek neighborhood of Whitehorse will be required to build a house on the lot within three years. (Mike Rudyk/CBC)

The land lottery comes after a year and a half of reviewing and processing historical land applications honouring the promises made to beneficiaries decades ago. Many families have already been using settlement land to live, hunt, fish, build camps and more.

KDFN's settlement land is mainly outside of Whitehorse and is divided into 264 parcels. However it includes 84 parcels of land within the City of Whitehorse totalling about 24 square kilometres, which makes the First Nation the largest private landowner in the city.

Kwanlin Dnbeneficiaries or citizens interested in applying to the lottery must be 19 years or older, complete a Kwanlin Dn Citizen Statutory Declaration Form, and submit a land lottery application and $500 deposit to the Heritage, Lands and Resources department.

Applications will be accepted until 4 p.m. on Oct. 29. The land lottery will be held Nov. 1 at 2 p.m.

With files from Mike Rudyk