Fort Simpson: Difference between revisions
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Revision as of 03:58, 8 September 2008
Fort Simpson
Liidli Koe | |
|---|---|
| Country |  Canada |
| Territory | Northwest Territories  |
| Region | Dehcho Region |
| Constituency | Nahendeh |
| Census division | Fort Smith Region, Northwest Territories |
| Settled | 1803 |
| Village | 1822 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Duncan Canvin |
| • Senior Administrative Officer | Tom Matus |
| • MLA | Kevin Menicoche |
| Area | |
| • Land | 78.32 km2 (30.24 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 169 m (554 ft) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 1,216 |
| • Density | 15.5/km2 (40/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| Canadian Postal code | X0E 0N0 |
| Area code | 867 |
| Telephone exchange | 695 |
| Sources:Community Governance Data List[1], 2006 Canada Census,[2] Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre[3], Fort Simpson profile at the Legislative Assembly[4] Canada Flight Supplement[5] | |
Fort Simpson (Slavey language: Liidlii Kue "place where rivers come together") is a village in the Dehcho Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. The community is located on an island at the confluence of the Mackenzie and Liard Rivers. Both rivers were traditionally trade routes for the Hudson's Bay Company and the native Dene people of the area.
Fort Simpson is the regional centre of the Dehcho and is the gateway to the scenic South Nahanni River and the Nahanni National Park Reserve. Fort Simpson can be reached by air, water and road and has full secondary and elementary school service. The Mackenzie Highway was extended to Fort Simpson in 1970-71.
The central section of the community is on an island near the south bank of the Mackenzie River, but industrial areas and rural residential areas are located along the highway as far as the Fort Simpson Airport, just beyond which is the Liard River ferry crossing.
Demographics
Population is 1,216 according to the 2006 Census, up over 4 percent from the 2001 census (1,163).[2] The majority of the residents are First Nations and the main languages are South Slavey and English.
History
Fort Simpson was fist started as a fur trading site in 1803 then named Fort of the Forks. The Village of Fort Simpsons was permanent settlement in July 1822 when the Hudson's Bay Company constructed a trading post, naming it for George Simpson, then the Governor of Rupert's Land. Until 1910 Fort Simpson was "a company town", with some participation by the Anglican and Roman Catholic Missions. The Dene know it as Liidli Kue, meaning The place where the rivers come together.[6]
Pope John Paul II attempted to visit the community in September 1984 as part of his Canadian tour, but was prevented from landing due to fog; in an address over the radio from Yellowknife, he promised to visit in the future. He did so in September 1987 near the end of the tour of the United States, making a side trip to Fort Simpson.
Culture
There are two main annual festivals which occur in Fort Simpson. The first which is held in March is known as the "Beavertail Jamboree". This is a winter carnival which includes traditional games, snowmobile races, & talent shows.[7]
The other festival is the "Open Sky Festival" which is held annually on or around the July 1 long weekend ("Canada Day"). The Open Sky Festival is a multi-disciplinary arts festival which has occurred annually since 2001. Festival events include musical, theatrical, & other performances as well as traditional Dehcho Dene Crafts, visual arts, & new media exhibitions, workshops, & demonstrations. The Open Sky festival is hosted by the Open Sky Creative Society, a multi-disciplinary arts organization serving artists working in the Dehcho region. [8]
The Dene of the community are represented by the Liidli Kue First Nation[9] and the Métis by Fort Simpson Metis Local 52.[10] Both groups belong to the Dehcho First Nations.[11]
See also
- Fort Simpson Island Airport
- Fort Simpson Island Water Aerodrome
- Fort Simpson/Canadian Helicopters Heliport
- Fort Simpson/(Great Slave) Heliport
References
- ^ Community Governance Data List
- ^ a b 2006 Census
- ^ Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre - official names
- ^ Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, Fort Simpson profile
- ^ Canada Flight Supplement. Effective 0901Z 16 July 2020 to 0901Z 10 September 2020.
- ^ Fort Simpson Historical Society
- ^ Explore NWT - Beavertail Jamboree
- ^ Open Sky Creative Society
- ^ Liidli Kue First Nation
- ^ Fort Simpson Metis
- ^ Dehcho First Nations
