Tulita
Encyclopedia
Tulita, which in Dene language means "where the rivers or waters meet," is a hamlet
in the Sahtu Region
of the Northwest Territories
, Canada. It was formerly known as Fort Norman, until 1 January 1996. It is located at the junction of the Great Bear River
and the Mackenzie River
; the Bear originates at Great Bear Lake
adjacent to Deline
.
Tulita is in an area that is forested and well south of the tree line. Permafrost
underlays the area, more or less continuous in distribution. Tulita is surrounded by mountain
s, the latter renowned for Dall's sheep, and faces the Mackenzie Mountains
to the west, which has Mountain Goat
.
The population as of the 2006 was 505 and is predominantly Sahtu
Dene
(75.2%) who speak English and North Slavey
. In 2009 the Government of the Northwest Territories reported that the population was 566 with an average yearly growth rate of 1.5 person from 1996. The community also includes Métis
and non-Aboriginal (both 9.9%) as well as 3.0% Inuit
and 2.0% other Aboriginal.
Tulita may be reached via air year-round, and is served by Tulita Airport
; Norman Wells
is the regional centre and the site of origin of the majority of flights in. A winter road links Tulita to Wrigley and thence the Mackenzie Highway
, and is only open in mid- to late winter. Summer access is available by barge
or by canoe
, from Hay River
along the Mackenzie River. The NWT government is seeking federal funding to extend the Mackenzie Highway from Wrigley through Tulita to Tsiigehtchic
.
Amenities consist of a hotel, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
detachment, and a Nursing Station.
Tulita is represented by the Begade Shotagotine First Nation and belong to the Sahtu Dene Council
. Through the council they are in negotiations with the Government of Canada
for a land claims
settlement. They are also part of the Dehcho First Nations
listed as the Begaee Shuhagot'ine.
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 Sahtu Region
Sahtu Region
The Sahtu Region is one of five administrative regions in the Northwest Territories in Canada. The region consists of five communities with the regional office situated in Norman Wells. With the exception of Norman Wells the communities are predominately First Nations.-Communities:The Sahtu Region...
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. It was formerly known as Fort Norman, until 1 January 1996. It is located at the junction of the Great Bear River
Great Bear River
The -long Great Bear River, which drains the Great Bear Lake westward through marshes into the Mackenzie River, forms an important transportation link during its four ice-free months. It originates at south-west bay of the lake. The river has irregular meander pattern wide channel with average depth...
and the Mackenzie River
Mackenzie River
The Mackenzie River is the largest river system in Canada. It flows through a vast, isolated region of forest and tundra entirely within the country's Northwest Territories, although its many tributaries reach into four other Canadian provinces and territories...
; the Bear originates at Great Bear Lake
Great Bear Lake
Great Bear Lake is the largest lake entirely within Canada , the third or fourth largest in North America, and the seventh or eighth largest in the world...
adjacent to Deline
Deline, Northwest Territories
The Charter Community of Délįne is located in the Sahtu Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada on the western shore of Great Bear Lake and is northwest of Yellowknife. Délįne means "where the waters flow", a reference to the headwaters of the Great Bear River, Sahtúdé.The population as of the...
.
Tulita is in an area that is forested and well south of the tree line. Permafrost
Permafrost
In geology, permafrost, cryotic soil or permafrost soil is soil at or below the freezing point of water for two or more years. Ice is not always present, as may be in the case of nonporous bedrock, but it frequently occurs and it may be in amounts exceeding the potential hydraulic saturation of...
underlays the area, more or less continuous in distribution. Tulita is surrounded by mountain
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
s, the latter renowned for Dall's sheep, and faces the Mackenzie Mountains
Mackenzie Mountains
The Mackenzie Mountains are a mountain range forming part of the Yukon-Northwest Territories boundary between the Liard and Peel rivers. The range is named in honour of Canada's second Prime Minister Alexander Mackenzie. Nahanni National Park Reserve is in the Mackenzie Mountains.The Mackenzie...
to the west, which has Mountain Goat
Mountain goat
The Mountain Goat , also known as the Rocky Mountain Goat, is a large-hoofed mammal found only in North America. Despite its vernacular name, it is not a member of Capra, the genus of true goats...
.
The population as of the 2006 was 505 and is predominantly Sahtu
Sahtu
The Sahtú are an Aboriginal peoples of Canada Dene people living in the vicinity of Great Bear Lake , Northwest Territories, Canada...
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...
(75.2%) who speak English and North Slavey
Slavey language
Slavey is an Athabaskan language spoken among the Slavey First Nations of Canada in the Northwest Territories where it also has official status....
. In 2009 the Government of the Northwest Territories reported that the population was 566 with an average yearly growth rate of 1.5 person from 1996. The community also includes 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...
and non-Aboriginal (both 9.9%) as well as 3.0% Inuit
Inuit
The Inuit are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Canada , Denmark , Russia and the United States . Inuit means “the people” in the Inuktitut language...
and 2.0% other Aboriginal.
Tulita may be reached via air year-round, and is served by Tulita Airport
Tulita Airport
Tulita Airport is located adjacent to Tulita, Northwest Territories, Canada. The hours of operation is Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm local time. The airport does operate outside of its operational hours when responding to MEDIVAC call out....
; Norman Wells
Norman Wells, Northwest Territories
Norman Wells is the regional centre for the Sahtu Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada...
is the regional centre and the site of origin of the majority of flights in. A winter road links Tulita to Wrigley and thence the Mackenzie Highway
Mackenzie Highway
The Mackenzie Highway is a Canadian highway in northern Alberta and the Northwest Territories. It begins as Alberta Highway 2 at Mile Zero in Grimshaw, Alberta...
, and is only open in mid- to late winter. Summer access is available by barge
Barge
A barge is a flat-bottomed boat, built mainly for river and canal transport of heavy goods. Some barges are not self-propelled and need to be towed by tugboats or pushed by towboats...
or by canoe
Canoe
A canoe or Canadian canoe is a small narrow boat, typically human-powered, though it may also be powered by sails or small electric or gas motors. Canoes are usually pointed at both bow and stern and are normally open on top, but can be decked over A canoe (North American English) or Canadian...
, from 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...
along the Mackenzie River. The NWT government is seeking federal funding to extend the Mackenzie Highway from Wrigley through Tulita to Tsiigehtchic
Tsiigehtchic, Northwest Territories
Tsiigehtchic is a Gwich’in community located at the confluence of the Mackenzie and the Arctic Red River, in the Inuvik Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. The community was formerly known as Arctic Red River, until 1 April 1994.Population is 175 according to the 2006 Census...
.
Amenities consist of a hotel, 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 Nursing Station.
Tulita is represented by the Begade Shotagotine First Nation and belong to the Sahtu Dene Council
Sahtu Dene Council
The Sahtu Dene Council is a council that represents the Sahtu people of the Northwest Territories, Canada. The council is in negotiations with the Government of Canada for a land claims settlement, the Sahtu Dene and Metis Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement, for the four Dene communities in the...
. Through the council they are in negotiations with the Government of Canada
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
for a land claims
Land claims
Land claims are a legal declaration of desired control over areas of property including bodies of water. The phrase is usually only used with respect to disputed or unresolved land claims...
settlement. They are also part of the Dehcho First Nations
Dehcho First Nations
The Dehcho First Nations is an organization representing the Dene and Métis people of the Northwest Territories, Canada.-Members:*Acho Dene Koe Band - Fort Liard*Fort Liard Métis Local 67 - Fort Liard Métis*Deh Gah Gotie Dene Council - Fort Providence...
listed as the Begaee Shuhagot'ine.
Notable people
- Leslie NielsenLeslie NielsenLeslie William Nielsen, OC was a Canadian and naturalized American actor and comedian. Nielsen appeared in more than one hundred films and 1,500 television programs over the span of his career, portraying more than 220 characters...
lived here while his father was stationed with the Royal Canadian Mounted PoliceRoyal Canadian Mounted PoliceThe 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,...
.