Łutselkʼe (, Chipewyan language, Dëne Sųłıné Yatıé: ; "place of the ", the Coregonus artedi, cisco, a type of small fish), also spelt ''Łutsel Kʼe'', is a "designated authority" in the North Slave Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. The community is located on the south shore near the eastern end of Great Slave Lake and until 1 July 1992, it was known as Snowdrift, as the community lies near the mouth of the Snowdrift River.

History

Łutselkʼe is a First Nation community and the area was traditionally occupied by the Chipewyan Dene In 1925 the Hudson's Bay Company opened a post followed by the Catholic Church, Roman Catholic Church. A school opened in 1960. There is a proposal ongoing for Thaidene Nene National Park Reserve (proposed), Thaidene Nene National Park Reserve, with an area of , which has the support of the community.

Demographics

Population is 303 according to the Canada 2016 Census, 2016 Census a decrease of 2.7% over the Canada 2011 Census, 2011 Census.Lutselk'e
Settlement [Census subdivision], Northwest Territories and Region 5, Region [Census division], Northwest Territories In the 2016 Census the majority of the population, 270 people, were First Nations, 10 people were Métis in Canada, Métis and 10 were Inuit. The main languages in the community are Chipewyan language, Denesuline and English language, English. In 2017 the Government of the Northwest Territories reported that the population was 330 with an average yearly growth rate of 0.0% from 2007. In 2016, 115 people said they spoke an Indigenous languages as their First language, mother tongue. Of these 115 people, 105 spoke Dene (Chipewyan language, Chipewyan or Denesuline), 5 spoke Dogrib language, Dogrib or Tłı̨chǫ and 5 spoke Slavey language, North Slavey or Hare. Another 5 people gave a Chinese language as their mother tongue. A total of 295 knew English and another 5 knew both English and French.

Services

There is a two-person Royal Canadian Mounted Police detachment and Community health center, health centre with two nurses in the community. There is a single grocery store, the Lutselk'e Co-op, a Canada Post, post office and nine lodges / outfitters in the area. Education in the community is provided by the Lutsel Kʼe Dene School, which offers a comprehensive K-12 program. Additionally, there is also a community learning centre run by Aurora College. Although not accessible by road there is an airport, Lutselk'e Airport, with scheduled services from Yellowknife and an annual sealift is provided by the territorial government's ships from Hay River, Northwest Territories, Hay River in the summer. Lutselk'e Water Aerodrome is available in the summer months when the lake is clear of ice.

First Nations

Łutsel Kʼe is represented by the Łutsël K'é Dene First Nation and are part of the Akaitcho Territory Government.Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
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References

* Barnes, F.Q. ''Snowdrift Map-Area, District of Mackenzie, Northwest Territories (Preliminary Report)''. Geological Survey of Canada paper, 51–6. Ottawa, Ont: GSC, 1951. * Bielawski, E. ''The Desecration of Nánúlá Kúé Impact of Taltson Hydroelectric Development on Dene Sonline''. [s.l.]: Łutsel Kʼe Dene First Nation, 1993. * Canada, and M. M. Dillom Limited. ''Final Report Environmental Assessment Studies, Northern Canada Power Commission Facilities at Snowdrift, Repulse Bay and Grise Fiord, Northwest Territories''. Edmonton, Alta: Environment Canada, 1978. * Chambers, Cynthia Maude. ''Damaged and Needing Help Violence and Abuse in Aboriginal Families in Yellowknife and Lutsel Kʼe''. [S.l.]: Lutra Associates, 1993. * Northwest Territories, and BHP Billiton Diamonds Inc. ''Communities and Diamonds Socio-Economic Impacts in the Communities of: Behchoko, Gameti, Whati, Wekweeti, Detah, Ndilo, Lutsel Kʼe, 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. * Parlee, Brenda, Evelyn Marlowe, Lutsel Kʼe Dene First Nation. ''Traditional Knowledge on Community Health Community-Based Monitoring''. Yellowknife: West Kitikmeot/Slave Study Society, 1998. * Shinpo, Mitsuru, and Cyntha Struthers. ''A Preliminary Report Prepared for the Snowdrift Indian Band''. Waterloo, Ont: St. Jerome's College, University of Waterloo, 1990. * Weitzner, Viviane. ''Dealing Full Force Lutsel Kʼe Dene First Nation's Experience Negotiating with Mining Companies''. Ottawa, Ont: North-South Institute, 2006.

External links