Original Peoples of the North

The City of Yellowknife honours and recognizes the importance of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples to the development of our city.

We are actively working towards reconciliation, balancing this with a common vision for our community and needs heard by all our citizens. Other Indigenous people from Turtle Island (North America), European settlers , immigrant descendants, and new immigrants now contribute to the diversity and culture of Yellowknife.

National Indigenous Peoples Day 2019 An Elder Giving Speech

The NWT recognizes eleven official languages, which include:

  1. Chipewyan (Dëne Sųłıné Yatıé)
  2. Cree (Nēhiyawēwin)
  3. English
  4. French
  5. Gwich’in
  6. Inuinnaqtun
  7. Inuktitut
  8. Inuvialuktun
  9. North Slavey (Sahtúǫt’ı̨ne Yatı̨́)
  10. South Slavey (Dene Zhatıé)
  11. Tłı̨chǫ

There are 33 official communities in the NWT. These range in size from Yellowknife with a population of 24,000 to Kakisa with 39 people. (Stats Canada)