Tsiigehtchic The name of Tsiigehtchic means ‘At the mouth of Iron River’, referring to the outflow of Tsiigehnjik or the Arctic Red River. Contacts Tsiigehtchic The population of the community is about 150 people. So much more than dryfish! Tsiigehtchic is located at the confluence of the Mackenzie River and the Arctic Red River, on NTS topographic mapsheet 106N, Photo: Lawrence Norbert Photo: at Latitude 67˚27’N, Longitude 133˚44’W. Community name The Band Office Canada Post Day and night Prior to 1994 Tsiigehtchic was known as Arctic Red River on official (867) 953-3201 (located in At this number you Northern Store) June 21st – 24 hours of sunlight (from approx. mid-May maps. In 1994, the community changed its name to its traditional can contact: (867) 953-3060 to mid-July) name which means ‘At the mouth of Iron River.’ •• The Chief/Mayor of •• Open Noon – 4pm M-F December 21st – 0 hours of sunlight (from approx. early Tsiigehtchic December to late December) Economy Health Services •• The Tsiigehtchic Charter In the Mackenzie Delta, including Tsiigehtchic, there are 57 days Although only a few community members still make their living •• Please note that Community Office a year during which the sun does not set and 30 days a year from hunting, trapping, fishing and harvesting, Tsiigehtchic is a Tsiigehtchic does not have •• The President of the Elder’s during which the sun does not rise. thriving community and almost all people are working fulltime, a resident doctor or nurse, Committee, and part-time, casual or seasonal labour within the community. The if needed contact the The winter months, which we call the Dark Days, provide many Gwichya Gwich’in Band/Tsiigehtchic Charter Community provides The Government Health Station in good opportunities for star-gazing and viewing the Aurora Municipal Services and hires a number of people, The Designated Services Office Fort McPherson Borealis. Gwich’in Organization (DGO) and it’s economic arm, The Red River (867) 953-3706 (867) 952-2586 Incorporated Band, runs the fuel depot and also hires construction •• Can help with most or Inuvik Regional Government structure workers and heavy equipment operators for various seasonal Federal and Territorial Hospital Tsiigehtchic is governed by the Gwichya Gwich’in Band Council, projects and contracts. There are also jobs with The Gwich’in Social Services (867) 777-8000 Tsiigehtchic Charter Community Council, and Gwichya Gwich’in and Cultural Institute, The Government of the Northwest Territories, Designated Gwich’in Organization Council. The elected Chief of The Regional Health Authority, The Beaufort Delta Education Council Tsiigehtchic The DGO Office Health Centre the Gwichya Gwich’in Band also sits as Mayor. and Aurora College. (867) 953-3011 (867) 953-3361 •• At this number you can •• A Nurse is there every Event listing Ferry and road information contact the President Thursday from 10 am to March/April – Arctic Red River / Mackenzie Jamboree Tsiigehtchic is located on the Mackenzie River and is accessible by of the DGO. 5pm. April 22 – Gwich’in Day the MV Louis Cardinal ferry in the summer and by ice road in the It is also the number June 21 – Aboriginal Day

Police – RCMP Alestine Andre Photo: winter. The community experiences temporary isolation for a couple you contact for gas. July 1 – Canada Day (see below) Fort McPherson of weeks each spring and fall during break-up and freeze-up of the (867) 952-1111 August – Canoe Days Mackenzie River and Arctic Red River during which time access is Gas primarily by helicopter. The ferry access to Tsiigehtchic is located off (867) 953-3011 •• Tsiigehtchic does not have a resident police officer Culture the Dempster Highway and the ferry is in operation from late May •• Gas Station hours are Even today, life in Tsiigehtchic remains fairly traditional. Families to late October. During this time it runs generally from 9:30 am until 9-12am and 1-6pm M-F, Gwich’in Social and still go to summer fish camps along the Mackenzie River and 12:30 midnight. The ice road is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days and 10am – 3pm Sat. Gas Cultural Institute community members frequently go out on the land throughout a week. may be available after (867) 953-3613

Photo: Brian Kooyman Photo: Alestine Andre Photo: Brian Kooyman Photo: the seasons. Tsiigehtchic is well known for its excellent dryfish hours for a call-out fee Tsiigehtchic and strips. In the early fall time, hunters hunt for moose along For highway and ferry reports, you can call 1-800-661-0750 or click of $20 Tourism Society the river and caribou in the mountains. In late fall, many people on the ‘Road/Ferry’ button at http://www.gov.nt.ca. (867) 953-3136 Northern Store from Tsiigehtchic and Fort McPherson set their nets under the ice (867) 953-3060 Tsiigehtchic is located: •• Open seasonally for June, for their winter supply of fish. In the winter months, hunters may •• Groceries and some dry July and August. At other get caribou and moose, and recently, muskox. A few people also 125 km > from Inuvik goods, ATM, Open 10am – time contact The Band set snares for rabbits. In the spring, hunters skidoo to Jim Nagle Office 59 km > from Fort McPherson 6pm M-F Island or the Mackenzie Islands for geese and duck hunting. 144 km > from the NWT border Noon – 6pm Sat. Sewing and beadwork is undertaken by many community 1,100 km > from Whitehorse, Yukon Occasionally Open members for artistic, personal and economic purposes. Sunday PM Cookouts and feasts are held throughout the year. “to document, preserve and Historical sites Places to see promote Gwich’in culture, language, traditional knowledge and traditional Gwich’in and values.” place names in Tsiigehtchic »» Tsiigehtchic Tourist Centre Roman Catholic Church and Holy Name of Mary Mission – located in the centre of the house. Missionaries first visited Arctic Red River in 1868. The

Photo: Alestine Andre Photo: community with a panoramic oldest of the two churches located on Church Hill was built in Visitors are invited to see view of the town and its »» Water Lake – a scenic walk 1921. The material was barged down the river from Hay River. surroundings, the Tourist Centre takes you to this lake which is Nagwichoonjik (’big country river’) is the Gwich’in name for the following landmarks offers kitchen facilities, a toilet the community’s water source. the Mackenzie River. The river has played an important role and shower, camping sites, throughout Gwich’in history and holds physical, cultural and in Tsiigehtchic: »» The Flats – an historic part of WiFi, displays of local Arts and spiritual significance for the Gwichya Gwich’in. In 1997, a 175 the community where events are Crafts for sale, local pictures and km stretch of the river (from Thunder River to Point Separation) often held today. information. Walking tours of Lawrence Norbert Photo: was designated a National Historic Site by the Historic Sites and »» Tsiigehtchic Band the community can be arranged. »» Church Hill – with amazing Monuments Board of Canada. It is one of the largest such sites & Charter Office – where Come and see our rustic log views of both the Mackenzie History in Canada. A plaque has been placed in the community near the you can find information about building and quaint viewing River and Arctic Red River. For many generations, the Gwichya Gwich’in established camps Band Office to recognize the significance of this stretch of the river. the community and see a 19th platform and cupola. century replica of a Gwich’in »» Tsiigehtchic Cemetery – on the Flats below the community for summer fishing. Indeed, Łeth T’urh Kak (’on the mud flats’ – a.k.a The Flats) refers to man’s five piece summer outfit Located next to Church Hill archaeological excavations show that this area was used for at the large flats located below the community of Tsiigehtchic

Photo: Alestine Andre Photo: made of white caribou skins least 1,200 years. According to the oral history, the Flats was well »» Gwich’in Social & Cultural where the Mackenzie River ferry, M.V. Louis Cardinal, lands. This and decorated with porcupine known as a summer gathering place where people fished, traded, Institute office area was used for centuries for fish camps and a meeting place »» Tsiigehtchic sign on the quills, beads, silverberry seeds participated in drum dances and tea dances, stick gambling, foot – for cultural, historical and between the Gwichya Gwich’in, the Slavey, and the Eneekaii hill – referred to locally as the and fringes. The original races, football and visiting. linguistic information about the (later called the Inuvialuit). Today, the flats are still used for ‘Hollywood‘ sign. outfit is in the collections of Gwich’in. GSCI was established In 1868-1869, the Roman Catholic Church established its first fishing and recreational purposes. the Canadian Museum of »» Fish camps - where you can by the Gwich’in Tribal Council mission in the Gwich’in area near the present day community but Vik’ooyendìk (unknown meaning – a.k.a. Church Hill) is the see fish being processed and Civilization. in 1992 and began operation Eileen Cardinal Photo: because of flooding, moved the mission seven miles downriver Gwichya Gwich’in name for the high hill that stands at the buy local dryfish and fish strips. in 1993 with the mandate to the Old Arctic Red site in 1883. The mission was moved to its mouth of the Arctic Red River on top of which is sited the Roman present location in the community in 1896. The Catholic Church Catholic Church, the first building that is visible as you approach seen today on Vik’ooyendìk (Church Hill) was built in 1921 and the community by road or river. People in the community often sit renovated in early 2000. Fur traders followed the Roman Catholic here in the spring to enjoy the sunny warm weather and to keep missionaries and by 1901, Hislop and Nagle built a trading post an eye on the ice conditions of the Arctic Red and Mackenzie on the Flats, soon to be followed by the Hudson’s Bay Company rivers during break up. In the summer people sit here to admire (HBC) in 1902. the view along the rivers and monitor road and river traffic. In 1926, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) established Deetrìn’ Ehch K’ìt (’raven’s bed’) is located below the Church a post at Arctic Red River. This post remained in operation until and is the site of the raven’s camp and the old time story about 1976. Although there were many changes that took place in the Raven losing his beak, tricking the people to get it back and why community, life for the Gwichya Gwich’in remained centered his beak appears crooked today. around the land and seasonal activities. It was not until the 1940s and the introduction of government schooling and later The Arctic Red River called Tsiigehnjik (’iron river’) in government housing in the late 1970s that the Gwichya Gwich’in Gwich’in, was designated a Canadian Heritage River in 1994. began to settle permanently at the present site. The river has a rich cultural history with many named places along its course as it was used as a trail into the Mackenzie In 1992, the Gwichya Gwich’in along with the Gwich’in living Mountains where people made their living in the winter. The river in Aklavik, Inuvik and Fort McPherson, signed the Gwich’in is navigable between late May and early October. Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement. The community of Tsiigehtchic now sits within the Gwich’in Settlement Area. This land claim gives the Gwich’in ownership and jurisdiction over parcels of land in the Mackenzie Delta and other areas of their traditional lands. The Gwich’in are currently negotiating a self-government agreement. Photo: MACA Photo: