FAQ
Answering your Questions…
Scroll down or click on the questions below to read more about our most frequently asked questions. If you have additional questions for us or would like something else to be added here please reach out to us!
Dän Laachewdäw Kún means “a place where people gather.” The community chose our name, and it was confirmed by Elders.
Listen to the late Jimmy Johnny pronounce “Dän Laachewdäw Kún” by clicking on the arrow below.
Where did the name come from?
Where is it located?
The building will be located adjacent to the Government House along the bluffs overlooking the Mayo River. This site connects to existing trails and the views from the cliff, with plenty of space for outdoor activities. The site was chosen because it has a strong relationship with the existing Administration building, is highly visible from public access. The goal is to firmly ground the building with the landscape to align with the ways in which we have chosen places to set up our camps and gathering places for generations.
The site was confirmed in 2020 by Chief and Council resolution after years of engagement with the community.
How is the building funded?
The design for Dän Laachewdäw Kún is being primarily funded by CHRT-41. We anticipate that this funder will also fund a good portion of the building (estimated at around 30%). However it will not fund the large gathering space or administration spaces. The project team is looking for additional funding, and options around financing and internal funding as needed.
What will be in Gathering House?
““We’re creating innovation as well as holding on to the traditions” ”
“I remember the moment I discovered a recording of my great-grandmother telling long ago stories in our language. Hearing her voice was powerful, and I hope other families experience that same joy and connection”
The feedback from the community made it clear—we needed a dedicated space where our stories could be told, and our culture could truly thrive. A place where the three Northern Tutchone communities can collaborate, where artists can showcase their artwork, where long ago stories are told. Where people can build skills, and share knowledge.
With the growing number of exhibits and artifacts, we knew we needed more room to properly preserve and showcase our history. We needed a better, safer place to care for these cultural treasures, artifacts from grandparents, family heirlooms, and pieces of history that hadn’t been accounted for. We started holding engagement sessions, collecting ideas, and working on policies for collections and archives, so that when we finally had a building, we’d be ready. The community didn’t just want a museum filled with displays; they wanted a place where culture was alive—where baby moccasins, wedding vests, and cherished grad dresses weren’t hidden away but made together and preserved with care and respect.
In this space, we’ll also preserve our stories for future generations. From recordings of our ancestors speaking in their language, to family stories that have been passed down for generations—Dän Laachewdäw Kún will house them all.
Dän Laachewdäw Kún will also house new technologies like a hologram machine that will tell cultural stories and histories in new ways. This blend of tradition and innovation will inspire future generations, sparking interest in cultural activities, and hopefully inspire them to get involved.
“Without your language, you have lost your identity”
We are on the cusp of losing our language, and through engagement with the community, it has been made clear there is a need for a Language Learning Center. As our language comes back, it will strengthen not only individuals but the entire community, reminding us of who we are and where we come from.
“We just need some place that is happy and positive for people to gather.”
This process has taken time—much longer than anyone expected, especially with the pandemic—but the excitement is still there. We’re finally at a point where we can dig into the details of Dän Laachewdäw Kú, and it feels like we’re on the verge of something great. The Gathering House is no longer just an idea or a hope. It’s becoming real, and the community is creating something beautiful together.
“Engagement does take time to include all the voices”
As the planning moves forward, we invite you to join us in this journey of building a Gathering House that will serve the community. By having your voice heard in each step of the process, it will ensure Dän Laachewdäw Kú is exactly what we want and need it to be. As we work together to build Dän Laachewdäw Kú, the story of the Beaver teaches man how to build a house reminds us how important it is to share ideas and skills for future generations. The knowledge of animals has been passed through time, showing us the way to survive. Just as the beaver learned how to build a home using the right materials and careful planning, we too must use the knowledge of our ancestors and community members to create a space that is meaningful. Beaver’s knowledge of how to make a home had been honed over time, trial and error to find the shape, size, and the right materials to build it. A forward vision for a space that is usable, functionable and accessible. By using the knowledge of our ancestors and each and every community member we can plan wisely, and Dän Laachewdäw Kú will be a place that truly works for us.
Why is it taking so long?
“Engagement does take time to include all the voices”
How will we deal with procurement for construction?
Construction management was chosen as the procurement method for this project in order to ensure that FNNND can have control over the tender process and be directly involved in the construction process whether through responding to RFP’s, site tours, community builds and other methods.
We have heard again and again how important it is for this building to be built for NND by NND, and with Construction Management our goal is to make that come to life in a good way.
We currently have a survey open to get a better sense of capabilities within the community as well as hear from you what trainings you want to see start now to prepare for when the building gets built. Take a look at the open opportunities section or click the link below to fill it out.
As part of the project Class C/B costing that is currently ongoing, the project team is having an independing cost consultant complete a life cycle cost assessment. This will provide the project team with an estimation of the annual operating costs for the building, in order to start the planning for how the building can operate on an ongoing basis. There is a business plan that was completed in 2019 that will be updated to align with what we know of the project now to help NND make decisions to plan for the future.