Fort Liard, Northwest Territories
Encyclopedia
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 (Northwest Territories Highway 7 and (British Columbia Highway 77).
The Hamlet of Fort Liard has two stores to choose from: The General Store and the The North West Company
store. It has a school "Echo Dene School", with a student population of about 150 from K-12. It also has a nursing
station, a Royal Canadian Mounted Police
detachment, and a Recreation Centre (complete with a swimming pool, skating rink, youth centre and a multi-court). There is a fuel center that sells gasoline
, diesel fuel, propane
, emergency survival kits and convenience items. There is also a traditional craft store which sells locally made craft items.
Population is 583 according to the 2006 Census
the majority of which are First Nations
. In 2009 the Government of the Northwest Territories reported that the population was 572 with an average yearly growth rate of 0.5 from 1996.
The Dene
of the community are represented by the Acho Dene Koe Band
and the Métis
by Fort Liard Metis Local 67. Both groups belong to the Deh Cho First Nations Tribal Council
.
(Köppen climate classification Dfc), just short of a humid continental climate
(Köppen climate classification
Dfb), characterized by extreme variation of temperatures between seasons. Temperatures can be very warm in the summer, and very cold in the winter.
Hamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
in the Dehcho Region
Dehcho Region
The Dehcho Region is one of five administrative regions in the Northwest Territories. The region consists of six communities with the regional office situated in Fort Simpson. All communities in the Dehcho are predominately First Nations.-Communities:...
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...
. It is located 37 km (23 mi) north of the British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
border. It became accessible by road in 1984 with the completion of the Liard Highway (Northwest Territories Highway 7 and (British Columbia Highway 77).
The Hamlet of Fort Liard has two stores to choose from: The General Store and the The North West Company
The North West Company
The North West Company is a grocery and merchandise store in remote communities across northern Canada and Alaska. Through its subsidiary, Cost-U-Less stores it also operates in the US territories of Guam, The CNMI, and American Samoa and in the Caribbean....
store. It has a school "Echo Dene School", with a student population of about 150 from K-12. It also has a nursing
Nursing
Nursing is a healthcare profession focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life from conception to death....
station, a Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
detachment, and a Recreation Centre (complete with a swimming pool, skating rink, youth centre and a multi-court). There is a fuel center that sells gasoline
Gasoline
Gasoline , or petrol , is a toxic, translucent, petroleum-derived liquid that is primarily used as a fuel in internal combustion engines. It consists mostly of organic compounds obtained by the fractional distillation of petroleum, enhanced with a variety of additives. Some gasolines also contain...
, diesel fuel, propane
Propane
Propane is a three-carbon alkane with the molecular formula , normally a gas, but compressible to a transportable liquid. A by-product of natural gas processing and petroleum refining, it is commonly used as a fuel for engines, oxy-gas torches, barbecues, portable stoves, and residential central...
, emergency survival kits and convenience items. There is also a traditional craft store which sells locally made craft items.
Population is 583 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 majority of which are 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 572 with an average yearly growth rate of 0.5 from 1996.
The 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...
of the community are represented by the Acho Dene Koe Band
Acho Dene Koe First Nation
The Acho Dene Koe First Nation is a band government of the Dene people, based at Fort Liard, Northwest Territories, Canada. Its main community is the Fort Liard Settlement, although it has territorial claims in British Columbia and Alberta and is a participant in the British Columbia Treaty Process...
and the Métis
Métis people (Canada)
The Métis are one of the Aboriginal peoples in Canada who trace their descent to mixed First Nations parentage. The term was historically a catch-all describing the offspring of any such union, but within generations the culture syncretised into what is today a distinct aboriginal group, with...
by Fort Liard Metis Local 67. Both groups belong to the Deh Cho First Nations Tribal Council
Deh Cho First Nations Tribal Council
Deh Cho First Nations Tribal Council is based out of the Northwest Territories, Canada-Membership:The Deh Cho First Nations Tribal Council is made up of several First Nations including:...
.
Climate
Fort Liard has a borderline subarctic climateSubarctic climate
The subarctic climate is a climate characterized by long, usually very cold winters, and short, cool to mild summers. It is found on large landmasses, away from the moderating effects of an ocean, generally at latitudes from 50° to 70°N poleward of the humid continental climates...
(Köppen climate classification Dfc), just short of a humid continental climate
Humid continental climate
A humid continental climate is a climatic region typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot summers and cold winters....
(Köppen climate classification
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
Dfb), characterized by extreme variation of temperatures between seasons. Temperatures can be very warm in the summer, and very cold in the winter.