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Behchokǫ̀

Coordinates: 62°48′09″N 116°02′47″W / 62.80250°N 116.04639°W / 62.80250; -116.04639
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Behchokǫ̀
ᐯᐊᑋᐟᗱᒼᑯ
Rae-Edzo
Tłı̨chǫ Community Government
Behchokǫ̀ on Great Slave Lake
Behchokǫ̀ on Great Slave Lake
Motto: 
Strong like two people
Behchokǫ̀ is located in Northwest Territories
Behchokǫ̀
Behchokǫ̀
Behchokǫ̀ is located in Canada
Behchokǫ̀
Behchokǫ̀
Coordinates: 62°48′09″N 116°02′47″W / 62.80250°N 116.04639°W / 62.80250; -116.04639
CountryCanada
TerritoryNorthwest Territories
RegionNorth Slave
ConstituencyMonfwi
Tlicho Community Government4 August 2005[1]
Government
 • ChiefClifford Daniels[2]
 • Senior Administrative OfficerPushp Seth [2]
 • MLA for MonfwiJane Weyallon Armstrong
Area
[3]
 • Land75.17 km2 (29.02 sq mi)
Elevation
179 m (587 ft)
Population
 (2016)[3]
 • Total
1,874
 • Density249/km2 (640/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−07:00 (MST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−06:00 (MDT)
Canadian Postal code
X0E 0Y0
Area code867
Telephone exchange292, 371, 392
- Living cost127.5A
- Food price index143.9B
Sources:
Department of Municipal and Community Affairs,[2]
Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre,[4]
Canada Flight Supplement[5]
^A 2013 figure based on Edmonton = 100[6]
^B 2015 figure based on Yellowknife = 100[6] Elevation at the airport[5]

Behchokǫ̀ ([bɛ́ht͡ʃʰókʰõ̀] or [bɛ́ht͡sʰókʰõ̀]; English: /ˌbɛtʃoʊˈkoʊ/[7]) (from the Tłı̨chǫ meaning "Behcho's place"), officially the Tłı̨chǫ Community Government of Behchokǫ̀,[8] is a community in the North Slave Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. Behchokǫ̀ is located on the Yellowknife Highway (Great Slave Highway), on the northwest tip of Great Slave Lake, approximately 110 km (68 mi) northwest of Yellowknife.[9]

History

[edit]

Explorer Samuel Hearne was the first European to encounter Dogrib-speaking people while crossing the lands north of Great Slave Lake in 1772. Later, in 1789, trader Alexander Mackenzie traveled by canoe very close to their territory while trading with the Yellowknives, another First Nations peoples, along the north arm of the big lake.

The first trading post in this region was at the entrance of Yellowknife Bay, established in 1789 by the North West Company, a post known as Old Fort Providence. It was established for the benefit of both the Yellowknives and Dogrib Dene but it was not a significant trading centre and closed in 1823. Dogrib Dene were then required to enter into trade with Hudson's Bay Company posts on the south side of Great Slave Lake at Fort Resolution at the mouth of the Slave River. Historically, the Dogrib and the Yellowknives Dene have quarrelled. By the 1830s, Edzo, the Dogrib leader and Akaitcho, the Yellowknives leader, made peace. Afterwards, the Dogrib's returned to their traditional hunting grounds.[10]

Fort Rae was first established on a prominent peninsula on the north shore of the north arm of Great Slave Lake in 1852 as a wintering provision post for the Hudson's Bay Company. It was named for Scotsman explorer John Rae, who was among the explorers looking for remains of Sir John Franklin's expedition in the Arctic. It became an important trading post for the Dogrib Dene. In the early 20th century, free traders penetrated a monopoly previously held by the HBC. Ed Nagle and Jack Hislop opened a new trading post at the very northern tip of the north arm where Marian Lake connects to Great Slave Lake. As this location was much closer to many of the Dene families living on the land, it became the area of choice for trade. The HBC abandoned the old Fort Rae and set up a post next to Hislop and Nagle.[11]

As the community grew alongside increased services such as a mission-run hospital and church, the government viewed the topography of Fort Rae as unsuitable for expansion. In the 1950s there was concern about runoff from animal and human wastes contaminating sources of drinking water, and the government proposed constructing a new settlement on more favourable terrain. The community became known as Edzo and was located on the west side of the Frank Channel opposite Fort Rae a 24 km (15 mi) drive away.[9] Most of the Dene families refused to move from their community so that Rae (62°49′43″N 116°03′08″W / 62.82861°N 116.05222°W / 62.82861; -116.05222 (Rae)) and Edzo (62°46′30″N 116°02′26″W / 62.77500°N 116.04056°W / 62.77500; -116.04056 (Edzo)) (Rae-Edzo) became two separate communities although administered together.[12]

The name Rae-Edzo was changed 4 August 2005 to Behchokǫ̀. The biggest names in Tłı̨chǫ history are Edzo, Bruneau, and Monfwi. All men were Dogrib chiefs at important periods in their cultural history; Edzo signed the peace pact with the Yellowknives Dene in the 1820s, Jimmy Bruneau was a long-standing chief in the 20th century, and Monfwi signed Treaty 11 with the Canadian Government in 1921 and created the Tłı̨chǫ annual assembly in 1932.

Before 2005, the community was unincorporated, and most local governance was provided by a First Nations band government, Dog Rib Rae First Nation. Under the terms of the Tłı̨chǫ Agreement, most responsibilities of Dog Rib Rae have been transferred to the Behchokǫ̀ Community Government. However, the First Nation is still recognized by the federal government for Indian Act enrollment.

Demographics

[edit]
Federal census population history of Behchokò
YearPop.±%
19711,081—    
19761,158+7.1%
19811,378+19.0%
19861,378+0.0%
19911,521+10.4%
19961,662+9.3%
20011,702+2.4%
20061,894+11.3%
20111,926+1.7%
20161,874−2.7%
20211,746−6.8%
Source: Statistics Canada
[13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][3][21]
Annual population estimates
YearPop.±%
19961,764—    
19971,755−0.5%
19981,759+0.2%
19991,755−0.2%
20001,765+0.6%
20011,785+1.1%
20021,818+1.8%
20031,870+2.9%
20041,881+0.6%
20051,936+2.9%
20061,974+2.0%
YearPop.±%
20071,983+0.5%
20081,999+0.8%
20091,993−0.3%
20101,985−0.4%
20112,021+1.8%
20122,027+0.3%
20132,024−0.1%
20142,055+1.5%
20152,109+2.6%
20162,183+3.5%
20172,227+2.0%
Sources: NWT Bureau of Statistics (2001 2017)[22]

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Behchokò had a population of 1,746 living in 460 of its 541 total private dwellings, a change of -6.8% from its 2016 population of 1,874. With a land area of 74.96 km2 (28.94 sq mi), it had a population density of 23.3/km2 (60.3/sq mi) in 2021.[21]

Ethnicity

[edit]

According to the 2016 Census the Indigenous population was made up of 1,695 First Nations and 50 Métis people.[3] One of the four Tłı̨chǫ communities, it is the largest Dene community in Canada.[23] Behchokǫ̀ was the site of the signing of the Tłı̨chǫ land claim agreement that brought about the Tlicho Government.[24]

Panethnic groups in the Community of Behchokǫ̀ (2001−2021)
Panethnic group 2021[25] 2016[26] 2011[27] 2006[28] 2001[29]
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
Indigenous 1,615 93.35% 1,755 94.1% 1,800 94.24% 1,770 93.9% 1,450 93.85%
European[a] 75 4.34% 85 4.56% 100 5.24% 105 5.57% 95 6.15%
South Asian 20 1.16% 0 0% 0 0% 10 0.53% 0 0%
African 10 0.58% 10 0.54% 0 0% 0 0% 10 0.65%
East Asian[b] 0 0% 10 0.54% 0 0% 10 0.53% 0 0%
Southeast Asian[c] 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%
Middle Eastern[d] 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%
Latin American 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%
Other/multiracial[e] 0 0% 0 0% 10 0.52% 0 0% 0 0%
Total responses 1,730 99.08% 1,865 99.52% 1,910 99.17% 1,885 99.52% 1,545 99.55%
Total population 1,746 100% 1,874 100% 1,926 100% 1,894 100% 1,552 100%
Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses

Transportation

[edit]

The main street within Behchokǫ̀ is Donda Tili, which connects to the Yellowknife Highway and then to either Yellowknife or south to Fort Providence and southern Canada. Three ice roads are available during winter to connect to Gamètì, Wekweètì and Whatì to the north and west.[30]

The closest major public airport is Yellowknife Airport via an hour drive east. Nearby Rae/Edzo Airport is a private airport.

Services

[edit]
Boreal forest near Behchokǫ̀
Rae Edzo - Behchokǫ̀, camp on the banks of Great Slave Lake
Gas station Behchokǫ̀
A traditional teepee beside a modern dwelling in Behchokǫ̀, with the Great Slave Lake in the background

Religious

[edit]
  • Tlicho Baptist Church
  • St Michael's Catholic Church

Community

[edit]
  • Elizabeth Mackenzie Elementary School in Rae (K-6)
  • Chief Jimmy Bruneau School in Edzo (K-12)[31]
  • Kǫ̀ Gocho Complex - new recreation centre
  • Behchokǫ̀ Cultural Centre - community centre
  • Tłı̨chǫ Friendship Centre

Businesses

[edit]
  • Tli Cho Hotel - catering to tourist and visitors
  • Northern Store and Gas Bar
  • F & C Services - convenience store and stop for Frontier Coachlines
  • Hyway3 Bus Charters and Freight Services - connects to Edmonton and other parts of the NWT[32]
  • Trappers Hideaway Restaurant
  • Rabesca Resources Ltd - outfitters

Government

[edit]
  • Tłı̨chǫ Government Main Office
  • N.W.T. Housing Corporation - public housing
  • Municipal Services - sewage, water, public works
  • Fire Department - volunteer service[33] with two fire stations located in nearby Rae and Edzo
  • Policing - local Royal Canadian Mounted Police detachment[34]
  • EMS - located at Mary Adele Bishop Health Centre with one ambulance[35]

Medical

[edit]

There is no hospital in town; the nearest is Stanton Territorial Hospital in Yellowknife and only basic health services are provided by Mary Adele Bishop Health Centre. The local dental clinic is private and there is a Mental Health and Addictions Services centre.

Housing issues

[edit]

Behchokǫ̀ has been facing a long term and chronic housing crisis due to multiple issues: insufficient funding for affordable units, disrepair of existing housing stock and inability of many living in public housing to pay rent.[36]

See also

[edit]

Further reading

[edit]
  • Northwest Territories, and BHP Billiton Diamonds Inc. Communities and Diamonds Socio-Economic Impacts in the Communities of: Behchokǫ̀, Gameti, Whati, Wekweeti, Detah, Ndilo, Lutsel Kʼe, and Yellowknife : 2005 Annual Report of the Government of the Northwest Territories Under the BHP Billiton, Diavik and De Beers Socio-Economic Agreements. [Yellowknife]: Govt. of the Northwest Territories, 2006.

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Statistic includes all persons that did not make up part of a visible minority or an indigenous identity.
  2. ^ Statistic includes total responses of "Chinese", "Korean", and "Japanese" under visible minority section on census.
  3. ^ Statistic includes total responses of "Filipino" and "Southeast Asian" under visible minority section on census.
  4. ^ Statistic includes total responses of "West Asian" and "Arab" under visible minority section on census.
  5. ^ Statistic includes total responses of "Visible minority, n.i.e." and "Multiple visible minorities" under visible minority section on census.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Tlicho Community Government Act, S.N.W.T. 2004, c.7" (PDF) (PDF). Government of the Northwest Territories. August 4, 2005. pp. 16–17 and 20. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 18, 2013. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  2. ^ a b c "NWT Communities - Behchokǫ̀". Government of the Northwest Territories: Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. Retrieved 2017-10-29.
  3. ^ a b c d "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Northwest Territories)". Statistics Canada. February 8, 2017. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  4. ^ "Northwest Territories Official Community Names and Pronunciation Guide". Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre. Yellowknife: Education, Culture and Employment, Government of the Northwest Territories. Archived from the original on 2016-01-13. Retrieved 2016-01-13.
  5. ^ a b Canada Flight Supplement. Effective 0901Z 16 July 2020 to 0901Z 10 September 2020.
  6. ^ a b "Behchoko - Statistical Profile (2006-2017)" (PDF). NWT Bureau of Statistics. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2018-08-28.
  7. ^ Tłı̨chǫ Agreement (PDF), Ottawa: Queen's Printer for Canada, 2003, ISBN 0662349717
  8. ^ Differences in Community Government Structures
  9. ^ a b NWT Bureau of Statistics - Behchokǫ̀
  10. ^ Communities Economic Reference Library; Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment. pg 181.(2006).
  11. ^ Zinovich, Jordan. "Battling the Bay: The Turn of the Century Adventures of Fur Trader Ed Nagle." Edmonton: Lone Pine Publishing, 1992.
  12. ^ Grainge, Jack. "The Changing North: Recollections of an early environmentalist." Edmonton: Canadian Circumpolar Institute Press, 1999.
  13. ^ "1976 Census of Canada: Population - Geographic Distributions" (PDF). Statistics Canada. June 1977. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  14. ^ "1981 Census of Canada: Census subdivisions in decreasing population order" (PDF). Statistics Canada. May 1992. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  15. ^ "1986 Census: Population - Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions" (PDF). Statistics Canada. September 1987. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  16. ^ "91 Census: Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions - Population and Dwelling Counts" (PDF). Statistics Canada. April 1992. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  17. ^ "96 Census: A National Overview - Population and Dwelling Counts" (PDF). Statistics Canada. April 1997. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  18. ^ "Population and Dwelling Count Amendments". Statistics Canada. July 4, 2012. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  19. ^ "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2006 and 2001 censuses - 100% data (Northwest Territories)". Statistics Canada. August 20, 2021. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  20. ^ "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2011 and 2006 censuses (Northwest Territories)". Statistics Canada. July 25, 2021. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  21. ^ a b "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), Northwest Territories". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  22. ^ Population Estimates By Community from the GNWT
  23. ^ Behchokǫ̀. Although the Saskatchewan community of La Loche is listed with a populatipn of 2611 in 2011 with more than 95% of the population Dene speaking by Wikipedia. at the Tłı̨chǫ First Nations site
  24. ^ Government of the NWT news release on land claims signing Archived February 12, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  25. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2022-10-26). "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2024-05-04.
  26. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2021-10-27). "Census Profile, 2016 Census". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2024-05-04.
  27. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2015-11-27). "NHS Profile". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2024-05-04.
  28. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2019-08-20). "2006 Community Profiles". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2024-05-04.
  29. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2019-07-02). "2001 Community Profiles". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2024-05-04.
  30. ^ "Winter Roads". Archived from the original on 2016-10-27. Retrieved 2016-11-21.
  31. ^ About Chief Jimmy Bruneau Regional High School
  32. ^ Hyway3 Transport
  33. ^ "Behchoko fire truck sent for repairs". Archived from the original on 2016-11-20. Retrieved 2016-11-20.
  34. ^ Behchoko detachment Northwest Territories
  35. ^ Local boost for Behchoko health care services
  36. ^ Evicted and homeless: housing crisis in Behchoko, N.W.T. has no easy solutions
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