Fort Resolution, Northwest Territories
Encyclopedia
Fort Resolution is a "settlement corporation" in the South Slave Region
of the Northwest Territories
, Canada
. The community is situated at the mouth of the Slave River
, on the shore of Great Slave Lake
, and at the end of Fort Resolution Highway
(Highway 6).
It is the oldest documented community in the Northwest Territory, and was a key link in the fur trade's water route north. Fort Resolution is designated as a national historic site, due to its importance to aboriginal culture and fur trade history.
Population is 484 according to the 2006 Census
. The majority of townspeople are of Dene
or Métis
descent. The predominant languages are English
, Chipewyan
and Michif
. In 2009 the Government of the Northwest Territories reported that the population was 506 with an average yearly growth rate of 0.9 from 1996.
Fort Resolution features "Deninu School", offering schooling for children K-12. The town also has a hockey
arena
, community hall, nursing station, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
, bed and breakfast
, a 'Northern' general store
with a "Quick-Stop" convenience store and two gas stations. A small airport, Fort Resolution Airport
, services charter and medivac
flights only. The oldest building in town is the historic Roman Catholic Church
, built in the early 19th century. A second, Protestant
, church offers an alternative worship option. The beach along Great Slave Lake is a prime spot for summer swimming, bird watching or relaxing. Local people engage in fishing
, moose
hunting
, and trapping of ptarmigan and rabbit year-round.
The nearby site of Pine Point
was once a thriving lead
mine. When the value of lead plummeted in the 1980s, the mine closed, and the township was evacuated. Pine Point houses were sold for $1 apiece, and many of the buildings were then moved to Fort Resolution, or to Hay River
.
"Deninu Days" in late August celebrate the beginning of moose hunting season with parades, traditional races, games and talent competitions. Recreational opportunities include camping
, canoeing
and fishing (self-guided, or available through several outfitters). "Little Buffalo River Crossing" is a nearby territorial park, with historical and natural attractions, accessible by road and featuring a campground with 12 sites.
Fort Resolution is represented by the Deninu Kue First Nation and are part of the Akaitcho Territory Government
.
South Slave Region
The South Slave Region is one of five administrative regions in the Northwest Territories. The region consists of seven communities with the regional offices situated in Fort Smith and Hay River. With the exception of Enterprise and Hay River the communities are predominately First...
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...
. The community is situated at the mouth of the Slave River
Slave River
The Slave River is a Canadian river that flows from Lake Athabasca in northeastern Alberta and empties into Great Slave Lake in the Northwest Territories....
, on the shore 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 ...
, and at the end of Fort Resolution Highway
Fort Resolution Highway
Highway 6, known more commonly as the Fort Resolution Highway, is a highway in Canada's Northwest Territories, which follows the shore of Great Slave Lake from the Buffalo River Junction to Fort Resolution....
(Highway 6).
It is the oldest documented community in the Northwest Territory, and was a key link in the fur trade's water route north. Fort Resolution is designated as a national historic site, due to its importance to aboriginal culture and fur trade history.
Population is 484 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 townspeople are of 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...
or 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...
descent. The predominant languages are English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, Chipewyan
Dene Suline language
Dene Suline or Chipewyan is the language spoken by the Chipewyan people of central Canada. It is a part of the Athabaskan family...
and Michif
Michif language
Michif is the language of the Métis people of Canada and the United States, who are the descendants of First Nations women and fur trade workers of European ancestry...
. In 2009 the Government of the Northwest Territories reported that the population was 506 with an average yearly growth rate of 0.9 from 1996.
Fort Resolution features "Deninu School", offering schooling for children K-12. The town also has a hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
arena
Hockey rink
An ice hockey rink is an ice rink that is specifically designed for ice hockey, a team sport. It is rectangular with rounded corners and surrounded by a wall approximately 40 inches high called the boards.- Name origins :...
, community hall, nursing station, 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,...
, bed and breakfast
Bed and breakfast
A bed and breakfast is a small lodging establishment that offers overnight accommodation and breakfast, but usually does not offer other meals. Since the 1980s, the meaning of the term has also extended to include accommodations that are also known as "self-catering" establishments...
, a 'Northern' general store
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....
with a "Quick-Stop" convenience store and two gas stations. A small airport, Fort Resolution Airport
Fort Resolution Airport
Fort Resolution Airport is located adjacent to Fort Resolution, Northwest Territories, Canada....
, services charter and medivac
MEDEVAC
Medical evacuation, often termed Medevac or Medivac, is the timely and efficient movement and en route care provided by medical personnel to the wounded being evacuated from the battlefield or to injured patients being evacuated from the scene of an accident to receiving medical facilities using...
flights only. The oldest building in town is the historic Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
, built in the early 19th century. A second, Protestant
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
, church offers an alternative worship option. The beach along Great Slave Lake is a prime spot for summer swimming, bird watching or relaxing. Local people engage in fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
, moose
Moose
The moose or Eurasian elk is the largest extant species in the deer family. Moose are distinguished by the palmate antlers of the males; other members of the family have antlers with a dendritic configuration...
hunting
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
, and trapping of ptarmigan and rabbit year-round.
The nearby site of Pine Point
Pine Point, Northwest Territories
Pine Point was the townsite built at the Pine Point Mine in the Northwest Territories, Canada, which was an open-pit lead and zinc mine.The first buildings were erected in 1952 during the original exploration and development campaign, and even before that a number of log cabins had been built in...
was once a thriving lead
Lead
Lead is a main-group element in the carbon group with the symbol Pb and atomic number 82. Lead is a soft, malleable poor metal. It is also counted as one of the heavy metals. Metallic lead has a bluish-white color after being freshly cut, but it soon tarnishes to a dull grayish color when exposed...
mine. When the value of lead plummeted in the 1980s, the mine closed, and the township was evacuated. Pine Point houses were sold for $1 apiece, and many of the buildings were then moved to Fort Resolution, or to Hay River
Hay River, Northwest Territories
Hay River , known as "the Hub of the North," is a town in the Northwest Territories, Canada, located on the south shore of Great Slave Lake, at the mouth of the Hay River. The town is separated into two sections, a new town and an old town with the Hay River Airport between them...
.
"Deninu Days" in late August celebrate the beginning of moose hunting season with parades, traditional races, games and talent competitions. Recreational opportunities include camping
Camping
Camping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants leave urban areas, their home region, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights outdoors, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, caravan, motorhome, cabin, a primitive structure, or no...
, canoeing
Canoeing
Canoeing is an outdoor activity that involves a special kind of canoe.Open canoes may be 'poled' , sailed, 'lined and tracked' or even 'gunnel-bobbed'....
and fishing (self-guided, or available through several outfitters). "Little Buffalo River Crossing" is a nearby territorial park, with historical and natural attractions, accessible by road and featuring a campground with 12 sites.
Fort Resolution is represented by the Deninu Kue First Nation and are part of the Akaitcho Territory Government
Akaitcho Territory Government
The Akaitcho Territory Government is a First Nations organization representing the Dene people of the Northwest Territories, Canada.-Members:*Deninu Kue First Nation - Fort Resolution*Lutsel K'e Dene First Nation - Lutselk'e...
.