Band Members Give Up Housing for Indoor Rink

Band Members Give Up Housing for Indoor Rink

Thursday, December 04, 2003 at 12:58

The Hatchet Lake Dene Nation is celebrating the opening of its brand new arena in Wollaston Lake today.

A ceremony is planned for this afternoon to recognize the completion of the 1.3-million dollar-facility.

This is the first indoor rink the community has ever had, and band official Bart Tsannie says the people of Hatchet Lake had to make several sacrifices in order to make it happen.

Tsannie says the only way the band could afford to build the arena was to put a hold on badly-needed housing for the next 10 years.

Tsannie says the band membership approved this measure because community members desperately wanted to improve the recreation opportunities available for their youth.