Deline, Northwest Territories

Infobox Settlement
name = Deline
native_name = Délįne
other_name = Location map polarx
CanadaGeo
caption =
lon_shift = 4.1
label= Délįne
label-size=70 | lat_skew=1.2
background = #DDDD22
position=top
lat = 65.186667
long = -123.421667
mark=Green_pog.svg
marksize=6
width=250
float=right
settlement_type = Settlement Corporation
motto =

---

imagesize =
image_caption = Great Bear Lake, NWT, Canada


flag_size =
image_

seal_size =
image_shield =
shield_size =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Canada
subdivision_type1 = Territory
subdivision_name1 = Northwest Territories
subdivision_type2 = Region
subdivision_name2 = Sahtu Region
subdivision_type3 = Constituency
subdivision_name3 = Sahtu
subdivision_type4 = Census division
subdivision_name4 = Inuvik Region, Northwest Territories
leader_title = Ehk'Wahtide
leader_name = Raymond Tutcho
leader_title1 = Senior Administrative Officer
leader_name1 = Ronald Mackeinzo
leader_title2 = MLA
leader_name2 = Norman Yakeleya
established_title = Charter Community
established_date = 1 April 1993
area_land_km2 = 79.33
elevation_m = 214
latd= 65.186667
longd= -123.421667
population_total = 525
population_density_km2 = 6.6
timezone = Mountain (MST)
utc_offset = -7
timezone_DST = MDT
utc_offset_DST = -6
postal_code_type = Canadian Postal code
postal_code = X0E 0G0
area_code = 867
blank_name = Telephone exchange
blank_info = 589
footnotes = Sources:Community Governance Data List [http://www.maca.gov.nt.ca/governments/printpage.asp?Other=FALSE Community Governance Data List] ] ,
2006 Canada Census,
Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre [http://www.pwnhc.ca/programs/downloads/OfficialCommunityNames.pdf Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre - official names] ] ,
Délįne profile at the Legislative Assembly [ [http://www.assembly.gov.nt.ca/_live/pages/wpPages/mapdeline.aspx Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, Délįne profile] ]
Canada Flight Supplement [CFS]

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 544 km (338 mi) northwest of Yellowknife.

The population as of the 2006 Census was 525, [http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/profiles/community/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=6107003&Geo2=PR&Code2=61&Data=Count&SearchText=Deline&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom= 2006 Census] ] mainly Sahtu Dene people speaking North Slavey. [ [http://www12.statcan.ca/english/profil01/CP01/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=6107003&Geo2=PR&Code2=61&Data=Count&SearchText=Colville%20Lake&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All 2001 Census] ] Délįne means "where the waters flow", a reference to the headwaters of the Great Bear River, Sahtúdé.

Pitchblende

The area became prominent when pitchblende was discovered at the Eldorado Mine, some 250 km (155 mi) away, on the eastern shore, at Port Radium. During World War II, the Canadian government took over the mine and began to produce uranium for the then-secret American nuclear bomb project. The village became a permanent settlement in 1952 with the building of a school.

The Dene from Délįne, who were conscripted as ore carriers, were not informed about the risks of radioactivity or how to protect themselves. Most of those men who participated began to die of cancer in the 1960s.

According to oral history, while canoeing on Great Bear Lake in the early part of the 20th century, a Délįne elder reached a precipice where he had a vision of a great city burning, of people who comported First Nations features enduring great suffering. According to tradition, this precipice is where uranium was later discovered.

John Franklin

The community was formerly called "Fort Franklin" and was the site of John Franklin's winter site during his . The community changed to the current name on 1 June, 1993

Land claims

Délįne is represented by the Deline First Nation and belong to the Sahtu Dene Council. [ [http://nwt-tno.inac-ainc.gc.ca/mpf/stakehld/delinefn_e.htm Indian and Northern Affairs Canada] ] Through the council they are in negotiations with the Government of Canada for a land claims settlement.

Polar bears

On 2 April 2008 three polar bears, a mother and two cubs, were seen in the community, which is convert|480|km|mi south of the Arctic Ocean. The bears, which were harassing dogs, and posed a danger to local people were shot by a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police due to the lack of wildlife officers with tranquillisers. A biologist with the Government of the NWT took samples from the bears, which are marine mammals and usually remain near the ocean. The biologist stated that the animals were starving and that they were unable to take fat samples and their muscles were starting to break down. A biologist with the University of Alberta said that the unusual sighting was "...probably an indication of something changing broadly over an ecosystem,". [ [http://www.nnsl.com/members/newspapers/stories/apr7_08bear.html News/North online] and print edition] [ [http://www.cbc.ca/canada/north/story/2008/04/03/deline-bears.html Wandering polar bears a sign of climate change: expert] ]

References

* John Price, "Our own atomic victims," Victoria Times-Colonist

ee also

*Déline Airport
*Déline Water Aerodrome

External links

* [http://www.maca.gov.nt.ca/governments/communityresult.asp?ComCode=303 Municipal Affairs and Community Administration profile]
* [http://www.stats.gov.nt.ca/Infrastructure/Comm%20Sheets/Deline.html Deline at the GNWT]
* [http://www.deline.ca/ Welcome to Délįne]
* [http://www.antenna.nl/wise/uranium/uippra.html Village of Widows]