Northwest Territories

The Northwest Territories is a territory of Canada. It covers a huge area of about 1,127,711.92 square kilometres and had an estimated population of 45,848 in 2025. It is the second-largest and second-most populous of the three territories in Northern Canada. The land is mostly traditional home of the Dene and part of the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, known as Inuvialuit Nunangit Sannaiqtuaq in Inuinnaqtun. Some land is also used by Cree and Métis peoples.

The capital and largest town is Yellowknife, with a population of 20,340 in 2021. It became the capital in 1967 after suggestions by the Carrothers Commission. The Northwest Territories joined Canada on July 15, 1870, and its borders have changed several times since then. Today, its borders have been fixed since April 1, 1999, after the creation of Nunavut.

The area has a mixture of boreal forest (taiga) and tundra, with its northern parts being part of the Arctic Archipelago. The Northwest Territories touches many other areas, including Nunavut to the east, Yukon to the west, and the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan to the south. It even touches Manitoba at a special point called a quadripoint. The land size is about the same as France, Portugal, and Spain together, but even larger because of its many lakes.

Name

See also: § History

The Northwest Territories was first called the North-West Territories. In 1906, the name changed to its current form. Originally, the British government gave it this name during the colonial era to show where it was compared to the rest of Rupert's Land. The name has been shortened from North-Western Territory and then North-West Territories.

In Inuktitut, the area is called Nunatsiaq, meaning "beautiful land". The northern part is home to the Inuvialuit people, who live mainly in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region. The southern area is known as Denendeh, meaning "our land" in Athabaskan. Denendeh is the home of many Dene nations, stretching from central Alaska to Hudson Bay.

After the Yukon Territory split off in 1898, the Northwest Territories was no longer the westernmost area. Before Nunavut split from it in 1999, it included land all the way to Canada's Atlantic provinces. There has been talk about changing the name, maybe to a word from an Indigenous language. Some suggested "Denendeh". There was even a funny suggestion to call it "Bob", which started as a joke but became popular in some polls.

Geography

Main article: Geography of the Northwest Territories

The Northwest Territories is a large area in northern Canada. It shares borders with Yukon to the west, Nunavut to the east, and four provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south, and Manitoba to the far southeast. It covers a huge land area of 1,183,085 km².

Important geographical features include Great Bear Lake, the largest lake completely inside Canada, and Great Slave Lake, the deepest lake in North America. The Mackenzie River flows through the area, and the Nahanni National Park Reserve is known for its impressive canyons. The territory also includes islands in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago such as Banks Island and Prince Patrick Island. The highest point is Mount Nirvana, which stands at 2,773 meters tall.

Climate

See also: Climate change in the Arctic

The Northwest Territories has a wide range of climates. The southern part has a subarctic climate, while the northern islands and coast have a polar climate.

Summers are short and cool in the north, with temperatures between 14–17 °C during the day. Winters are long and very cold, often dropping below −30 °C. In the south, summer temperatures can reach up to 36 °C, while winter temperatures can fall to −40 °C. Thunderstorms happen sometimes in the south but are rare in the north. The area is quite dry because of the mountains to the west.

About half of the territory lies above the tree line, meaning there are few trees in many areas, especially in the eastern parts and northern islands.

History

Main articles: History of the Northwest Territories and History of Northwest Territories capital cities

See also: Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Inuit Nunangat, and Métis

The Northwest Territories has been home to many Indigenous groups for a very long time. The Dene people, including many nations such as the Tłı̨chǫ, Got'iné Néné, and Gwichʼin, have lived in the area for generations. Their land, called Denendeh, stretches across much of what is now the Northwest Territories and parts of Alaska, British Columbia, and the northern prairie provinces.

Along the northern coast, the Inuvialuit, part of the Inuit people, have their own traditional lands called the Inuvialuit Settlement Region. Other Inuit groups, like the Copper Inuit, also live in nearby areas. To the south, there are Cree First Nations and Métis communities.

In 1670, the Hudson's Bay Company began trading in the region. Later, in 1870, the area became part of Canada. Over time, parts of the Northwest Territories were separated to form new provinces like Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. In 1999, the eastern part of the Northwest Territories became a new territory called Nunavut.

Demography

Main article: Demographics of the Northwest Territories

The Northwest Territories is a special place in Canada where many different groups of people live together. In fact, it is one of only two places in Canada where more than half of the people are from Indigenous groups, meaning they have strong ties to the land and traditional ways of life. These Indigenous groups include the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples.

The area has many different ethnic backgrounds. Besides Indigenous peoples, there are also many people with European roots, such as those from England, Scotland, Ireland, France, and Germany. The territory has eleven official languages, including English, French, and several Indigenous languages, showing the rich cultural mix of its people.

Economy

The Northwest Territories had an economy worth about C$4.856 billion in 2017. It is one of the richest areas in Canada, with a high amount of money made per person.

Mining

The land has many valuable minerals, such as gold, diamonds, natural gas, and petroleum. Some of the biggest mining companies in the world work there. The area has been important for mining for many years, with mines producing gold, uranium, and other minerals.

Main article: List of mines in the Northwest Territories

• Eldorado Mine – 1933–1940, 1942–1960, 1976–1982 (radium, uranium, silver, copper)
• Con Mine – 1938–2003 (gold)
• Negus Mine – 1939–1952 (gold)
• Ptarmigan and Tom Mine – 1941–1942, 1986–1997 (gold)
• Thompson-Lundmark Mine – 1941–1943, 1947–1949 (gold)
• Giant Mine – 1948–2004 (gold)
• Discovery Mine – 1950–1969 (gold)
• Rayrock Mine – 1957–1959 (uranium)
• Camlaren Mine – 1962–1963, 1980–1981 (gold)
• Cantung Mine – 1962–1986, 2002–2003, 2005–2015 (tungsten)
• Echo Bay Mines – 1964–1975 (silver and copper)
• Pine Point Mine – 1964–1988 (lead and zinc)
• Tundra Mine – 1964–1968 (gold)
• Terra Mine – 1969–1985 (silver and copper)
• Salmita Mine – 1983–1987 (gold)
• Colomac Mine – 1990–1992, 1994–1997 (gold)
• Ekati Diamond Mine – 1998–current (diamonds)
• Diavik Diamond Mine – 2003–current (diamonds)
• Snap Lake Diamond Mine – 2007–2015 (diamonds)

Tourism

In winter, many visitors come to Yellowknife to see the beautiful lights in the sky called auroras. The territory has several special areas for nature lovers managed by Parks Canada. These include Aulavik and Tuktut Nogait National Parks in the north, and parts of Wood Buffalo National Park, which is mostly in Alberta. There are also three park reserves: Nááts'ihch'oh, Nahanni National Park Reserve, and Thaidene Nëné National Park Reserve.

Government

Main articles: Government of the Northwest Territories and Politics of the Northwest Territories

The Northwest Territories is a part of Canada with fewer rights than its provinces. Leaders have worked to get more control over the land’s resources. The main leader, called the Commissioner, is chosen by the country’s government but now mainly serves in a symbolic role. Instead, the people elect leaders to make decisions together in a system without political parties.

The Northwest Territories has nineteen areas, each electing one member to the Legislative Assembly. After elections, these members choose a premier and a speaker. The current premier is R.J. Simpson, chosen in 2023. The area is represented by one member in Canada’s Parliament.

Departments

The government of Northwest Territories comprises the following departments:

• Education, Culture and Employment
• Environment and Climate Change
• Executive and Indigenous Affairs
• Finance
• Health and Social Services
• Industry, Tourism and Investment
• Infrastructure
• Justice
• Legislative Assembly
• Municipal and Community Affairs

Administrative regions

The Northwest Territories is divided into five administrative regions (regional offices in parentheses):

• Dehcho Region (Fort Simpson)
• Inuvik Region (Inuvik)
• North Slave Region (Yellowknife and Behchoko [sub-office])
• Sahtu Region (Norman Wells)
• South Slave Region (Fort Smith and Hay River [sub-office])

Culture

See also: Music of the Northwest Territories

The Northwest Territories has a rich mix of cultures, shaped by its history and the people who live there. Many people in the region come from the Dene and Inuit communities, who have lived in the area for generations.

There have been times when different groups did not always get along well, but today there are efforts to build peace and understanding. Important agreements have been made to respect the lands of these communities, like the Inuvialuit Final Agreement in 1984. These agreements help protect the rights and traditions of the people who call the Northwest Territories home.

Festivals

See also: Category:Festivals in the Northwest Territories

The Northwest Territories holds many colorful festivals. Some of these include the Great Northern Arts Festival, the Snowking Winter Festival, the Folk on the Rocks music festival in Yellowknife, and Rockin the Rocks. These festivals celebrate the arts, music, and culture of the region.

Transportation

See also: List of Northwest Territories highways

The Northwest Territories has nine numbered highways. The longest is the Mackenzie Highway, which stretches from the Alberta Highway 35 in the south to Wrigley, Northwest Territories in the north. Ice roads and winter roads are important in winter, giving access to towns and mines that are usually reached by plane. The Yellowknife Highway connects to Yellowknife, and the Dempster Highway runs from Dawson City, Yukon, to Inuvik. The Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway links Inuvik to coastal communities.

Yellowknife did not have a road to the rest of Canada until the Deh Cho Bridge was finished in 2012. Before that, people used ferries in summer and ice roads in winter to cross the Mackenzie River.

The Northwest Territories issues licence plates shaped like a polar bear, unlike other places in North America.

Public transit

Yellowknife Transit is the public transportation agency in Yellowknife and the only transit system in the Northwest Territories.

Air

See also: List of airports in the Northwest Territories

Yellowknife Airport is the largest airport in the territory. It connects to other places in the Northwest Territories and is part of the National Airports System. Airlines such as Buffalo Airways, Canadian North, and North-Wright Airways serve the region.