"It's awesome, it's amazing," says one winner of KDFN's first ever land lottery

Tuesday, 2 November 2021 15:04

By Dylan MacNeil

KDFN Elder Diane Smith draws names for the nation's first ever land lottery.

Doronn Fox says "the possibilities are great" for him and his little girls after winning a parcel of Settlement Land.

Kwanlin Dün First Nation Elder Diane Smith drew names yesterday in the nation’s first ever land lottery.

30 KDFN Citizens and Beneficiaries put their names forward to win one of five parcels of Settlement Land in Porter Creek through 125-year residential lot leases.

One of the names pulled out of the drum yesterday was Doronn Fox.

“I was like one hundred percent convinced I wasn’t going to win,” Fox told CHONfm as he laughed.

He says he forgot that the lottery was even happening yesterday and he was surprised when his phone was flooded with congratulations texts.

Now, Fox has to pay about fifty grand for the lot, and he’ll have to build a house on the land within three years. He says he’s not sure what he'll do with the house, he’s also building a home out in Ibex. Whether he lives in it, our rents it out for passive income, Fox says it means a solid future for him and his four-year-old twin girls.

“Finding out from other people and then going to do the paper work made it real. So, since yesterday, talking with family and friends and stuff, the possibilities about what this can do for the family, it’s awesome, it’s amazing. I don’t like to go in to things with expectations, so I didn’t have any expectations, but having it actually come to fruition is – the possibilities are great,” said Fox.

It seems like luck runs in Fox’s family. His uncle Bruce Campbell also won a plot of land in the lottery.

The full list of winners is: Kailen Gingell, Bruce Campbell, Shirley Dawson, Doronn Fox, and Kaiden McIntyre.

Residents living on settlement land have to indicate that on their tax form, which means having citizens build homes on the lots will create revenue for KDFN.

When KDFN announced the lottery back in September, Chief Doris Bill said it's an effort to support future generations

“Creating these opportunities for home ownership allows us to continue to build a strong and stable future for Kwanlin Dün families. We are working to close the equity gap and build sustainable wealth for our youth and future citizens not yet born,” said Bill at the announcement on September 10.

There are plans to make more lots available in the future. Fox says he had to put a $500 deposit down to enter, and going forward he would like to see the lottery process more refined so more people can have a chance to win.

"It's awesome, it's amazing," says one winner of KDFN's first ever land lottery

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