Behchoko, Northwest Territories
Encyclopedia
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
(Great Slave Highway), on the northwest tip of Great Slave Lake
, approximately 80 km (49.7 mi)northwest of Yellowknife.
Formerly known as Rae-Edzo, the name was changed 4 August 2005, with Rae at 62°49′43"N 116°03′08"W named after John Rae
and Edzo at 62°46′30"N 116°02′26"W named after Chief Edzo. The two are 6 km (3.7 mi) apart by air and 15 km (9.3 mi) apart by road.(In the winter, the road distance is much shorter due to the winter road across the ice of Marian Lake. The biggest names in Tłı̨chǫ (Tli Cho) history are, Bruneau, and Monfwi. The Bruneau name comes from one of the Tłı̨chǫ leaders, Chief Jimmy Bruneau, who died in 1979. There is a school in his name in Edzo, Chief Jimmy Bruneau Regional High School
. Chief Monfwi, who created the Tłı̨chǫ annual assembly in 1932, but passed in 1936.
According to the 2006 Census
, the population is 1,894, most of which is First Nations
. In 2009 the Government of the Northwest Territories reported that the population was 2,026 with an average yearly growth rate of 1.1 from 1996.
One of the four Tłı̨chǫ communities, it is the largest Dene
community in Canada. Behchokǫ̀ was the site of the signing of the Tłı̨chǫ land claim agreement that brought about the Tłı̨chǫ Government.
, Shelagh Rogers
, and former Prime Minister
Jean Chrétien
.
North Slave Region
The North Slave Region is one of five administrative regions in the Northwest Territories. The region consists of eight communities with the regional offices situated in Behchoko and Yellowknife. With the exception of Yellowknife the communities are predominately First Nations.-Communities:The...
of the Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Behchokǫ̀ is located on the Yellowknife Highway
Yellowknife Highway
Highway 3, known more commonly as the Yellowknife Highway, but also the Great Slave Highway, connects Yellowknife, Northwest Territories to Highway 1, from a junction north of the Alberta border. Built in 1968, the highway is now completely paved and realigned after years of work concluded in...
(Great Slave Highway), on the northwest tip of Great Slave Lake
Great Slave Lake
Great Slave Lake is the second-largest lake in the Northwest Territories of Canada , the deepest lake in North America at , and the ninth-largest lake in the world. It is long and wide. It covers an area of in the southern part of the territory. Its given volume ranges from to and up to ...
, approximately 80 km (49.7 mi)northwest of Yellowknife.
History
After 1790, a trading post was established in the area. The ability of the Yellowknives to obtain firearms allowed them to control trade and hunting grounds surrounding Great Slave Lake for thirty years. Historically, the Dogrib's and the Yellowknives have quarreled. Around 1823, Edzo, the Dogrib leader and Akaitcho, the Yellownive leader made peace. Afterwards, the Dogrib's returned to their traditional hunting grounds.Formerly known as Rae-Edzo, the name was changed 4 August 2005, with Rae at 62°49′43"N 116°03′08"W named after John Rae
John Rae (explorer)
John Rae was a Scottish doctor who explored Northern Canada, surveyed parts of the Northwest Passage and reported the fate of the Franklin Expedition....
and Edzo at 62°46′30"N 116°02′26"W named after Chief Edzo. The two are 6 km (3.7 mi) apart by air and 15 km (9.3 mi) apart by road.(In the winter, the road distance is much shorter due to the winter road across the ice of Marian Lake. The biggest names in Tłı̨chǫ (Tli Cho) history are, Bruneau, and Monfwi. The Bruneau name comes from one of the Tłı̨chǫ leaders, Chief Jimmy Bruneau, who died in 1979. There is a school in his name in Edzo, Chief Jimmy Bruneau Regional High School
Chief Jimmy Bruneau Regional High School
Chief Jimmy Bruneau Regional High School is located in Edzo, south of Rae and serves Behchoko in the Northwest Territories, Canada. The school was named after one of the great leaders in Tłı̨chǫ history, Chief Jimmy Bruneau.- History :...
. Chief Monfwi, who created the Tłı̨chǫ annual assembly in 1932, but passed in 1936.
According to the 2006 Census
Canada 2006 Census
The Canada 2006 Census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population. Census day was May 16, 2006. The next census following will be the 2011 Census. Canada's total population enumerated by the 2006 census was 31,612,897...
, the population is 1,894, most of which is First Nations
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
. In 2009 the Government of the Northwest Territories reported that the population was 2,026 with an average yearly growth rate of 1.1 from 1996.
One of the four Tłı̨chǫ communities, it is the largest Dene
Dene
The Dene are an aboriginal group of First Nations who live in the northern boreal and Arctic regions of Canada. The Dené speak Northern Athabaskan languages. Dene is the common Athabaskan word for "people" . The term "Dene" has two usages...
community in Canada. Behchokǫ̀ was the site of the signing of the Tłı̨chǫ land claim agreement that brought about the Tłı̨chǫ Government.
Celebrities
Many celebrities have come through Behchokǫ̀, such as Jonathan TorrensJonathan Torrens
Jonathan Ormond Torrens is a Canadian actor and television personality best known for his co-hosting of Street Cents, his talk show Jonovision, and his role as "J-Roc" in the popular Canadian mockumentary Trailer Park Boys...
, Shelagh Rogers
Shelagh Rogers
Shelagh Rogers, OC is a Canadian radio broadcaster. She is currently the host of CBC Radio One's The Next Chapter.Rogers grew up in Ottawa, Ontario. She was the "Head Girl" at her high school, Lisgar Collegiate Institute. She played in the Ottawa Youth Orchestra and was a spare on the Reach for...
, and former Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
Jean Chrétien
Jean Chrétien
Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien , known commonly as Jean Chrétien is a former Canadian politician who was the 20th Prime Minister of Canada. He served in the position for over ten years, from November 4, 1993 to December 12, 2003....
.
Gallery
Further reading
- Northwest Territories, and BHP Billiton Diamonds Inc. Communities and Diamonds Socio-Economic Impacts in the Communities of: Behchokǫ̀, Gameti, Whati, Wekweeti, Detah, Ndilo, Lutsel K'e, 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.