Indigenous Northwest Territories: Treaties, Nations and Community
An introduction to Northwest Territories: its history, its Nations and treaties, and Indigenous community life today, with sources.
About Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories covers a vast stretch of boreal forest, tundra and Arctic coast, drained by the Mackenzie River, Canada’s largest river system, and anchored by Great Slave and Great Bear lakes. Roughly half the population is Indigenous, belonging to Dene, Inuvialuit and Métis peoples, and the territory recognizes 11 official languages, nine of them Indigenous: Chipewyan, Cree, Gwich’in, Inuinnaqtun, Inuktitut, Inuvialuktun, North Slavey, South Slavey and Tłı̨chǫ. Treaty 8 reaches the south, and Treaty 11 was signed in 1921 north of Great Slave Lake. Modern agreements followed: the Inuvialuit Final Agreement (1984), the Gwich’in Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement (1992), the Sahtu Dene and Métis agreement (1993) and the Tłı̨chǫ Agreement (2003), which combined land claims with self-government. Yellowknife has been the capital since 1967, and diamond mining dominates the modern economy.
Northwest Territories history
Dene and Inuit communities supported themselves by hunting and fishing across this land long before Europeans arrived. In Nahanni, archaeological evidence points to about 10,000 years of occupation. Samuel Hearne travelled overland to the Coppermine River in 1770–71. In 1789, Alexander Mackenzie followed the great river that now bears his name to its mouth, and fur trade posts followed his route. In 1870, Canada acquired Rupert's Land and the North-Western Territory from the Hudson's Bay Company and Great Britain. The Arctic islands were transferred in 1880. Alberta and Saskatchewan were carved out as provinces in 1905. Oil found at Fort Norman in 1920 spurred the signing of Treaty 11 the following year. On October 3, 1969, sixteen chiefs formed the Indian Brotherhood of the Northwest Territories, responding to the federal White Paper. Morris Lafferty of Fort Simpson was its first president. On July 19, 1975, more than 300 delegates in Fort Simpson adopted the Dene Declaration. It called for recognition of a Dene nation within the Mackenzie Valley. The Brotherhood became the Dene Nation at an assembly in Fort Norman in August 1978. The territory changed shape again in 1999, when Nunavut separated and took most of the eastern Arctic.
Treaty and territory
The Northwest Territories are covered by Treaties 8 and 11 and by modern land claim agreements, including those of the Inuvialuit, Gwich’in, Sahtu and Tłı̨chǫ. About half of the population is Indigenous: Dene, Inuvialuit and Métis.
Nearby: Yellowknife · Behchokǫ̀ · Inuvik · Hay River · Fort Smith · Dettah
Regions of Northwest Territories
Tourism and government maps divide the territory into several regions, and Indigenous governance lines up closely with them. The Western Arctic around Inuvik, Aklavik, Tuktoyaktuk, Paulatuk, Sachs Harbour and Ulukhaktok is Inuvialuit and Gwich'in land. Comprehensive land claim agreements cover both peoples. Farther up the Mackenzie, the Sahtu region takes in Colville Lake, Délı̨nę, Fort Good Hope, Norman Wells and Tulita. The Sahtu Dene and Métis agreement settled obligations under Treaty 11 there. The North Slave region holds Yellowknife, Dettah, Lutsel K'e, Behchokǫ̀, Gamètì, Wekweètì and Whatì. Here the Tłı̨chǫ agreement stands out as the territory's only settled agreement combining land, resources and self-government. In the southwest, the Dehcho region includes Fort Simpson, Fort Liard, Jean Marie River, Nahanni Butte, Sambaa K'e and Wrigley. Dehcho First Nations and Acho Dene Koe are still negotiating there. The South Slave covers Hay River, Fort Smith, Fort Resolution, Fort Providence, Enterprise and Kakisa. Kátł'odeeche First Nation, near Hay River, is in its own rights recognition talks, while Akaitcho and Métis negotiations reach across the south. Transboundary talks involve Nations based in Yukon, Saskatchewan and Manitoba whose traditional lands cross into the territory.
Indigenous Northwest Territories today
Indigenous governance in the Northwest Territories is shared among seven regional governments. They are the Akaitcho Territory Government, Dehcho First Nations, Gwich'in Tribal Council, Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, Northwest Territory Métis Nation, Sahtu Secretariat and Tłı̨chǫ Government. Four community-based governments add to that list, including the Délı̨nę Got'ı̨nę Government and Salt River First Nation. Délı̨nę has its own self-government agreement. Salt River First Nation signed a treaty settlement agreement. Negotiations continue on many fronts. Akaitcho, Dehcho, Acho Dene Koe and the Northwest Territory Métis Nation are working on land, resources and self-government agreements. Gwich'in, Inuvialuit and four Sahtu communities are negotiating self-government. In 2001, the territory made June 21 a statutory holiday for National Indigenous Peoples Day. In Yellowknife, the annual fish fry at Somba K'e Civic Plaza serves more than 3,000 whitefish fillets to crowds of up to 7,000. Métis jiggers, fiddlers, Inuit throat singers and the Yellowknives Dene Drummers perform. Fort Simpson holds canoe races at the Ehdaa Historical Site. Délı̨nę starts its day with bannock baking on Great Bear Lake, and Inuvik's celebration features the blanket toss.
Life in Northwest Territories
The territory is home to about 41,070 people, according to the 2021 census, spread across one of Canada's largest landscapes. Its natural regions include Arctic islands, the treeless Barren Lands and the Mackenzie Valley. Nahanni National Park Reserve became the first site in the world granted UNESCO World Heritage status, in 1978. It covers 30,050 square kilometres, roughly the size of Belgium. The South Nahanni River rises in the Mackenzie Mountains and runs 580 km through deep canyons before joining the Liard. Wood Buffalo National Park is the territory's second World Heritage Site. Nááts'ihch'oh, Thaidene Nëné, Aulavik and Tuktut Nogait round out a remarkable list of protected places. Mineral exploration took off in the 1930s, when bush pilots opened up the backcountry. In the 1990s, diamonds were found at Lac de Gras, about 300 km north of Yellowknife. Travellers today explore six regions, from the Dehcho and South Slave to the Western Arctic around Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk.
Northwest Territories seasons and weather
Winters are extremely cold and dark, with temperatures regularly far below freezing, and summers are brief under the midnight sun. Heavy layers and warm headwear are needed for much of the year.
Communities in Northwest Territories
Keep learning in the XUSI Journal
- The Numbered Treaties, Explained
- First Nations, Métis and Inuit: What’s the Difference?
- How to Write a Land Acknowledgement That Means Something
- Orange Shirt Day & the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
- All Journal articles
Northwest Territories questions
How does shipping work for Inuvik or a Sahtu community?
Shipping to your address is calculated at checkout, and orders of $90 or more ship free within Canada. We send every order from Saskatoon within 1 to 3 business days.
Could a Yellowknife hockey team order hoodies with its logo?
Yes. We need at least 10 garments, designs can use up to 4 colours, and every order is quoted before printing. Design help is included, and the finished order is printed in Saskatoon and shipped north.
What should I order for a National Indigenous Peoples Day event in the NWT?
Since June 21 is a statutory holiday in the Northwest Territories, many people are outdoors at fish fries, canoe races and drum dances. A heavyweight 100% cotton tee ($49.95) or a Golden Era ringer tee ($39.95) suits the long solstice evening. Order a few weeks ahead to allow for northern shipping.
Which XUSI piece works as a winter layer in Yellowknife or Inuvik?
Our hoodies ($59.95–$89.95) are made to layer, so one fits well under a parka for Northwest Territories winters. The generous fit of our heavyweight tees leaves room underneath too. Add an A-frame snapback ($44.95) for bright spring days when the sun reflects off the snow.
Last reviewed . Facts on this page come from the sources listed below.
Sources for this page
- Northwest Territories – The Canadian Encyclopedia
- Indigenous Governments of the NWT – GNWT Executive and Indigenous Affairs
- Current Negotiations – GNWT Executive and Indigenous Affairs
- Existing Agreements – GNWT Executive and Indigenous Affairs
- History – Dene Nation
- Celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day – Spectacular NWT
- National Indigenous Peoples Day – NWT Timeline
- Nature – Nahanni National Park Reserve, Parks Canada
Indigenous clothing from XUSI
In the Northwest Territories, you can order Indigenous clothing from XUSI, a Saskatoon label owned by Indigenous people. Our printed hoodies, tees and hats ship up to Yellowknife, Inuvik, Behchokǫ̀ and other northern communities.
Life in the Northwest Territories swings between endless summer light and deep winter dark, and we think our pieces can fit both. A heavyweight tee works for a June 21 fish fry at Somba K'e or a paddle on the South Nahanni. The Golden Era ringer tee suits canoe races and summer gatherings on the Mackenzie. When the ice returns, a heavyweight hoodie is a solid mid-layer under a parka in Behchokǫ̀ or Inuvik. The Revitalize Culture crewneck fits cool evenings at a Great Bear Lake camp. Our A-frame snapback keeps the low Arctic sun out of your eyes in spring. Since orders travel a long way, grouping items toward the $90 free-shipping mark makes sense.
