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April 2009 Blogs
North West Territories
MY CANADA, April 2009, by Jen Serdetchnaia
Northwest Territories
“I would describe the Northwest Territories as an adventure,” said high school student Chelsea. Chelsea lives in Hay River, Northwest Territories, a town of 3,500 people and three waterfalls, one half the size of the Niagara Falls.
The Climate
Expect to feel more than a bit of a chill while there. Becky, native to the Northwest Territories, says that some people love it while others can’t handle it.
“The winters are freezing cold and the summers are hot and buggy. There is no happy medium,” Chelsea said. For Chelsea, the freezing cold winters are a chance to get around on her skidoo. There is also no happy medium with daylight hours—the sun stays up around the clock during the summer and never rises during the winter.
Small Town Life
Chelsea said one of her favourite things about Hay River is the friendly people. “Just going up town for milk is like an hour thing because you need to talk to everyone,” she said.
While you’re in town, don’t be surprised to see an inukshuk in front of Hay River’s town hall. To translate inukshuk directly means “in the likeness of a human”. More specifically, an inukshuk is a monument made of unworked stone that the Inuit traditionally used for communication.
“The north is isolated. Minimum wage is higher and it’s easier to get a job and participate in activities. People are friendlier toward you because it is so small here that everyone knows each other,” Becky said.
“No, we don’t live in igloos and no, we don’t ride polar bears to school. But yes, I’ve seen a polar bear and yes, I’ve built an igloo,” Chelsea added.
The Capital
Yellowknife has the largest population of any town in the Northwest Territories—about 15,000 people. About half of the population of the whole territory is composed of Aboriginal people, specifically the Dene, Inuvialuit and Métis.
This capital hotspot offers a ton of exciting events! Come out to Snowking’s Annual Winter Festival at the frozen Yellowknife Bay at the Great Slave Lake. Explore the ice castle, take in live shows and music and meet the Snowking himself! Local musicians entertain daily at the Fuego International Cuisine, so come out and enjoy .
Wildlife
If you’re hoping to explore the wildlife, The Northwest Territories is better than just about anywhere else! Prepare to see moose, black bears and muskrats from your car on the highway. If you’re up for an even more incredible experience, set out for a guided nature tour with a wilderness outfitter and see the breathtakingly awesome polar bears on the coasts of The Northwest Territories. Over 10% of the world’s polar bear population has made the Northwest Territories its habitat.
Special Attractions
For an authentic experience of northern Canada, be sure to hop on a dog sled led by white huskies or at least attend a dog sled race, like the 150 mile Canadian Championship Dog Derby. At one time a primary form of transportation, dog sledding is now a popular sport.
Sports are a favourite pastime in the Northwest Territories. Chelsea mentions the gold-medal Olympic cross-country skier Brendan Green, who was born and raised in the Northwest Territories. Sports Chelsea recommends are ice fishing, kayaking, hunting and hiking.
With over two hundred forty nights when you can potentially view the Aurora Borealis from within the Northwest Territories, your chances of getting lucky and glimpsing this extraordinary occurrence are high. What should you expect when watching for the Aurora Borealis? On a good night, look for arcs, bands, spirals and draperies in the colours of blue-green or yellow-green with tints of pink. The scientific explanation behind the Aurora Borealis is particle barrage against atmospheric oxygen.
A Little Bit of History
The exploration of The Northwest Territories was just one of the perks that came along with the search for the Northwest Passage, which is a link to the eastern hemisphere for trade. The Northwest Territories did not become a part of Canada until 1870, when the Canadian government obtained the region from the Hudson’s Bay Company. The original Northwest Territories have been divided into a number of territories and provinces that exist today, with the most recent division being the creation of Nunavut for the Inuit just ten years ago.
Chelsea says she has learned a lot from living in the Northwest Territories. “Life isn’t about material things. It’s about enjoying each other’s company and living with what you need, not what you want,” she said.
“Here you’re actually inhaling O2 and releasing CO2, not the other way around,” she said. “Our water you can drink straight from the river, and our berries you can eat straight from the trees.”
Capital: Yellowknife
Motto: “Land of the Midnight Sun”
Flower: Mountain Avens
Population: 43,000
Languages: Eleven official languages - English, French, Chipewyan, Cree, Gwich'in, Inuinnaqtun, Inuktitut, Inuvialuktun, North Slavey, South Slavey and Dogrib.
Industry: Mining (especially for diamonds and gold), natural gas, oil.
Climate: Arctic and subarctic climatic zones; extremely cold and long winters.
Geography: Half of the region is above the Canadian tree-line, and half below. NWT borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south.
~ Jen