The Northwest Territories of Canada contains 33 official communities. [1]
The following are communities recognised by the Government of the Northwest Territories. All of them are also recognized as census subdivisions by Statistics Canada. [2]
| Name [3] | Former name/date of change [3] | Translation [3] | Governance | Municipality [4] | Administrative region | Census division | Population 2016 [2] | % change from 2011 | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aklavik | barren-ground grizzly place | Hamlet [5] | Yes | Inuvik [5] | Region 1 | 590 | −6.8% | 68°13′08″N135°00′31″W / 68.21889°N 135.00861°W | |
| Behchokǫ̀ | Rae Edzo, August 4, 2005 | Mbehcho's place | Self government, Community Government of Behchokö (Tlicho) [6] | Yes | North Slave [6] | Region 3 | 1,874 | −2.7% | 62°48′09″N116°02′47″W / 62.80250°N 116.04639°W |
| Colville Lake | K'áhbamñtúé; ptarmigan net place | Designated Authority, Behdzi Ahda First Nation, [7] settlement [2] | No | Sahtu [7] | Region 2 | 129 | −13.4% | 67°02′18″N126°05′32″W / 67.03833°N 126.09222°W | |
| Délı̨nę | Fort Franklin, June 1, 1993 | where the waters flow | Self government, Deline Got’ine Government, [8] Charter Community [2] | Yes | Sahtu [8] | Region 2 | 533 | 12.9% | 65°11′12″N123°25′18″W / 65.18667°N 123.42167°W |
| Dettah | burnt point | Designated Authority, Yellowknives Dene First Nation (Dettah), [9] settlement [2] | No | North Slave [9] | Region 6 | 219 | 4.3% | 62°24′41″N114°18′27″W / 62.41139°N 114.30750°W | |
| Enterprise | Hamlet [10] | Yes | South Slave [10] | Region 5 | 106 | 7.1% | 60°33′24″N116°08′34″W / 60.55667°N 116.14278°W | ||
| Fort Good Hope | Fort Hope, unknown | Rádeyîlîkóé; rapids place | Charter Community. K'asho Got'ine Charter Community [11] | Yes | Sahtu [11] | Region 2 | 516 | 0.2% | 66°15′31″N128°37′43″W / 66.25861°N 128.62861°W |
| Fort Liard | Echaot'l Koe; people from the land of the giants | Hamlet [12] | Yes | Dehcho [12] | Region 4 | 500 | −6.7% | 60°14′27″N123°28′11″W / 60.24083°N 123.46972°W | |
| Fort McPherson | Teet'lit Zhen; at the head of the waters place | Hamlet [13] | Yes | Inuvik [13] | Region 1 | 700 | −11.6% | 67°26′07″N134°52′55″W / 67.43528°N 134.88194°W | |
| Fort Providence | Zhahti Koe; mission house | Hamlet [14] | Yes | South Slave [14] | Region 4 | 695 | −5.3% | 61°21′17″N117°39′36″W / 61.35472°N 117.66000°W | |
| Fort Resolution | Deninoo Kue; moose island | Hamlet [15] | Yes | South Slave [15] | Region 5 | 470 | −0.8% | 61°10′18″N113°40′18″W / 61.17167°N 113.67167°W | |
| Fort Simpson | Liidlii Kue; place where rivers come together | Village [16] | Yes | Dehcho [16] | Region 4 | 1,202 | 0.9% | 61°51′47″N121°21′18″W / 61.86306°N 121.35500°W | |
| Fort Smith | Thebacha; beside the rapids | Town [17] | Yes | South Slave [17] | Region 5 | 2,542 | 1.8% | 60°00′19″N111°53′26″W / 60.00528°N 111.89056°W | |
| Gamèti | Rae Lakes, August 4, 2005 | rabbit net place | Self government, Community Government of Gametì, (Tlicho) [18] | Yes | North Slave [18] | Region 3 | 278 | 9.9% | 64°06′44″N117°21′13″W / 64.11222°N 117.35361°W |
| Hay River | Xátå'odehchee; Hay River | Town [19] | Yes | South Slave [19] | Region 5 | 3,528 | −2.2% | 60°49′59″N115°46′40″W / 60.83306°N 115.77778°W | |
| Inuvik | place of man | Town [20] | Yes | Inuvik [20] | Region 1 | 3,243 | −6.4% | 68°21′42″N133°43′50″W / 68.36167°N 133.73056°W | |
| Jean Marie River | Tthedzehk'edeli; water flowing over clay | Designated Authority, TthedzehKʼedeli First Nation, [21] settlement [2] | No | Dehcho [21] | Region 4 | 77 | 20.3% | 61°31′33″N120°37′38″W / 61.52583°N 120.62722°W | |
| Kakisa | K’agee; between the willows | Designated Authority, Ka'a'gee Tu First Nation, [22] settlement [2] | No | South Slave [22] | Region 4 | 36 | −20.0% | 60°56′24″N117°24′51″W / 60.94000°N 117.41417°W | |
| Kátł’odeeche (Hay River Reserve, Hay River Dene 1) | Xátå'odehchee; Hay River | Designated Authority, K'atlodeeche First Nation, [23] Indian reserve [2] | No | South Slave [23] | Region 4 | 309 | 5.8% | 60°50′01″N115°45′57″W / 60.83361°N 115.76583°W | |
| Łutselk'e | Snowdrift, July 1, 1992 | place of the Łutsel, a type of small fish | Designated Authority, Łutsel K’e Dene First Nation, [24] settlement [2] | No | North Slave [24] | Region 5 | 303 | 2.7% | 62°24′19″N110°44′22″W / 62.40528°N 110.73944°W |
| Nahanni Butte | Tthenáágó; strong rock | Designated Authority, Nahanni Butte Dene Band, [25] settlement [2] | No | Dehcho [25] | Region 4 | 87 | −14.7% | 61°02′02″N123°22′50″W / 61.03389°N 123.38056°W | |
| Norman Wells | Tåegõhtî; where there is oil | Town [26] | Yes | Sahtu [26] | Region 2 | 778 | 7.0% | 65°16′59″N126°50′58″W / 65.28306°N 126.84944°W | |
| Paulatuk | Paulatuuq; place of coal | Hamlet [27] | Yes | Inuvik [27] | Region 1 | 313 | 6.5% | 69°21′05″N124°04′10″W / 69.35139°N 124.06944°W | |
| Sachs Harbour | Ikahuak; place to which you cross | Hamlet [28] | Yes | Inuvik [28] | Region 1 | 103 | −8.0% | 71°59′08″N125°14′53″W / 71.98556°N 125.24806°W | |
| Sambaa Kʼe | Trout Lake, June 21, 2016 | Place of trout | Designated Authority, Sambaa Kʼe Dene Band, [29] settlement [2] | No | Dehcho [29] | Region 4 | 88 | −4.3% | 60°26′33″N121°14′43″W / 60.44250°N 121.24528°W |
| Tsiigehtchic | Arctic Red River, April 1, 1994 | mouth of the iron river | Charter Community [30] | Yes | Inuvik [30] | Region 1 | 172 | 20.3% | 67°26′26″N133°44′43″W / 67.44056°N 133.74528°W |
| Tuktoyaktuk | Port Brabant, 1950 [31] | looks like a caribou | Hamlet [32] | Yes | Inuvik [32] | Region 1 | 898 | 4.2% | 69°26′34″N133°01′52″W / 69.44278°N 133.03111°W |
| Tulita | Fort Norman, January 1, 1996 | where the waters meet | Hamlet [33] | Yes | Sahtu [33] | Region 2 | 477 | −0.2% | 64°54′01″N125°34′39″W / 64.90028°N 125.57750°W |
| Ulukhaktok | Holman, April 1, 2006 | where there is material for ulus | Hamlet [34] | Yes | Inuvik [34] | Region 1 | 396 | −1.5% | 70°44′11″N117°46′05″W / 70.73639°N 117.76806°W |
| Wekweètì | Snare Lakes, November 1, 1998 | rock lake | Self government, Community Government of Wekweètì (Tlicho) [35] | Yes | North Slave [35] | Region 3 | 129 | −8.5% | 64°11′25″N114°10′58″W / 64.19028°N 114.18278°W |
| Whatì | Lac La Martre, January 1, 1996 | marten lake | Self government, Community Government of Whatì (Tlicho) [36] | Yes | North Slave [36] | Region 3 | 470 | −4.5% | 63°08′40″N117°16′22″W / 63.14444°N 117.27278°W |
| Wrigley | Pedzéh Kñ; clay place | Designated Authority, Pehdzeh Ki First Nation, [37] settlement [2] | No | Dehcho [37] | Region 4 | 119 | −10.5% | 63°13′41″N123°28′12″W / 63.22806°N 123.47000°W | |
| Yellowknife | Sömbak'è; money place | City [38] | Yes | North Slave [38] | Region 6 | 19,569 | 1.7% | 62°26′32″N114°23′51″W / 62.44222°N 114.39750°W | |
Ndilǫ, (formerly Rainbow Valley, until 1991) part of the Akaitcho Territory Government, and represented by the Yellowknives Dene First Nation. It is located at 62°28′40″N114°20′03″W / 62.47778°N 114.33417°W on Latham Island, Yellowknife. [39]
| Community name | Translation | Governance | Administrative region | Census division | Population 2016 [2] | % change from 2006 | Location |
| Reliance | Settlement | South Slave | Region 5 | 0 | −100.0% | 62°42′45″N109°09′53″W / 62.71250°N 109.16472°W | |
| Salt Plains 195 | Indian reserve | South Slave | Region 5 | 0 | unchanged | 60°06′17″N112°14′23″W / 60.10472°N 112.23972°W | |
| Regional populations (Census division) | ||||
| Region 1 | 8 communities | 6,372 [40] | Region 1, Unorganized | 5 [41] |
| Region 2 | 5 communities | 2,433 [42] | Region 2, Unorganized | 0 [43] |
| Region 3 | 4 communities | 2,751 [44] | Region 3, Unorganized | 0 [45] |
| Region 4 | 9 communities | 3,160 [46] | Region 4, Unorganized | 47 [47] |
| Region 5 | 7 communities | 6,980 [48] | Region 5, Unorganized | 31 [49] |
| Region 6 | 2 communities | 20,090 [50] | Region 6, Unorganized | 302 [51] |
| Regional populations (administrative divisions) | ||||
| Dehcho Region | 6 communities | 2,203 | ||
| Inuvik Region | 8 communities | 6,698 | ||
| North Slave Region | 8 communities | 22,239 | ||
| Sahtu Region | 5 communities | 2,474 | ||
| South Slave Region | 7 communities | 7,681 | ||
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada. At a land area of approximately 1,144,000 km2 (442,000 sq mi) and a 2016 census population of 41,790, it is the second-largest and the most populous of the three territories in Northern Canada. Its estimated population as of 2023 is 45,668. Yellowknife is the capital, most populous community, and only city in the territory; its population was 19,569 as of the 2016 census. It became the territorial capital in 1967, following recommendations by the Carrothers Commission.
Whatì, officially the Tłı̨chǫ Community Government of Whatì is a First Nations community in the North Slave Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. Whatì is located by Lac La Martre, about 164 km (102 mi) northwest of the territorial capital of Yellowknife.
Yellowknife is the capital, largest community, and only city in the Northwest Territories, Canada. It is on the northern shore of Great Slave Lake, about 400 km (250 mi) south of the Arctic Circle, on the west side of Yellowknife Bay near the outlet of the Yellowknife River.
Wrigley is a "Designated Authority" in the Dehcho Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. The Slavey Dene community is located on the east bank of the Mackenzie River, just below its confluence with the Wrigley River and about 466 mi (750 km) northwest of Yellowknife.
Tulita, which in Slavey means "where the rivers or waters meet," is a hamlet in the Sahtu Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. It was formerly known as Fort Norman, until 1 January 1996. It is located at the junction of the Great Bear River and the Mackenzie River; the Bear originates at Great Bear Lake adjacent to Deline.
The Tłı̨chǫ people, sometimes spelled Tlicho and also known as the Dogrib, are a Dene First Nations people of the Athabaskan-speaking ethnolinguistic group living in the Northwest Territories of Canada.
Fort Resolution is a hamlet in the South Slave Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. The community is situated at the mouth of the Slave River, on the shores of Great Slave Lake, and at the end of the Fort Resolution Highway. It is the headquarters of the Deninu Kųę́ First Nation, whose Chief is Louis Balsillie.
Fort Providence is a hamlet in the South Slave Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. Located west of Great Slave Lake, it has all-weather road connections by way of the Yellowknife Highway branch off the Mackenzie Highway, and the Deh Cho Bridge opened November 30, 2012, near Fort Providence over the Mackenzie. The bridge replaced the ice bridge and ferry, enabling year-round crossing of the river.
Dettah, sometimes spelled incorrectly as Detah, is a First Nations community in the North Slave Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. Located just southeast of the capital of Yellowknife, it is a 6.5 km (4.0 mi) drive from that city by ice road across the north arm of Great Slave Lake in winter or a 27 km (17 mi) drive via the Ingraham Trail, year-round. The name means 'Burnt Point' in the Dogrib language and refers to a traditional fishing camp used by the Dene for hundreds of years.
The Yellowknives, Yellow Knives, Copper Indians, Red Knives or T'atsaot'ine are indigenous peoples of Canada, one of the five main groups of the First Nations Dene who live in the Northwest Territories. The name, which is also the source for the later community of Yellowknife, derives from the colour of the tools made from copper deposits.
Colville Lake is a settlement corporation located in the Sahtu Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. The community is located 50 km (31 mi) north of the Arctic Circle, on a lake of the same name, and is northeast of Norman Wells. This settlement is the administrative office of the Behdzi Ahda band government. The community is likely named for Hudson's Bay Company Governor Andrew Colvile.
Fort Liard is a hamlet in the Dehcho Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. It is located 37 km (23 mi) north of the British Columbia border. It became accessible by road in 1984 with the completion of the Liard Highway.
Nahanni Butte is a "Designated Authority" in the Dehcho Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. The community is located at the confluence of the Liard and South Nahanni Rivers in the southwestern part of the NWT.
Sambaa K'e is a "Designated Authority" in the Dehcho Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. The community is located near the Alberta border, east of Fort Liard, on the shore of the lake also known as Sambaa K'e. It has no all-weather road, but can be reached by winter road early in the year or by air year-round.
Behchokǫ̀, officially the Tłı̨chǫ Community Government of Behchokǫ̀, is a community in the North Slave Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. Behchokǫ̀ is located on the Yellowknife Highway, on the northwest tip of Great Slave Lake, approximately 110 km (68 mi) northwest of Yellowknife.
Łutselkʼe, also spelt Łutsël Kʼé, is a "designated authority" in the North Slave Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. The community is on the south shore near the eastern end of Great Slave Lake and until 1 July 1992, it was known as Snowdrift, as the community lies near the mouth of the Snowdrift River.
Wekweètì, officially the Tłı̨chǫ Community Government of Wekweètì is a community in the North Slave Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. Wekweètì is a Tłı̨chǫ aboriginal community and is located 195 km (121 mi) north of Yellowknife. It has no year-round road access but does have a winter ice road connection; the majority of transportation to and from the community is through the Wekweètì Airport. Wekweètì is the closest community to the Ekati Diamond Mine on the border with Nunavut. Wekweètì is part of the Tlicho Government.
Kakisa is a "Designated Authority" in the South Slave Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. The community is located on Kakisa Lake, and is southeast of Fort Providence. Originally located at Tathlina Lake, the community moved, in 1962, to the present location in order to be closer to the Mackenzie Highway and is linked by a 13 km (8.1 mi) all-weather road.
Hay River Reserve is one of only three Indian reserves in Canada's Northwest Territories. Located in the South Slave Region, it is a Slavey community with a population of 259, of which the majority are First Nations and some Métis, at the 2021 Canadian census, a 16.2% decrease from the 2016 census. The main languages on the reserve are South Slavey, and English. In 2017 the Government of the Northwest Territories reported that the population was 329, resulting in an average annual growth rate of 0.4% between 2007 and 2017.
The Charter Community of Délı̨nę is located in the Sahtu Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada, on the western shore of Great Bear Lake and is 544 km (338 mi) northwest of Yellowknife. Délı̨nę means "where the waters flow", a reference to the headwaters of the Great Bear River, Sahtúdé. It is the only settlement on the shores of Great Bear Lake as Fort Confidence was last used in the 1800s and Port Radium closed in 1982.
| Provinces | |
|---|---|
| Territories | |
