Fort Smith, Northwest Territories

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Fort Smith
native_name = Thebacha
motto =


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dot_mapsize = 250px
dot_map_caption = Location of Fort Smith in Canada
dot_x = 62|dot_y = 111
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Canada
subdivision_type1 = Territory
subdivision_name1 = Northwest Territories
subdivision_type2 = Region
subdivision_name2 = South Slave Region
subdivision_type3 = Constituency
subdivision_name3 = Thebacha
subdivision_type4 = Census division
subdivision_name4 = Fort Smith Region, Northwest Territories
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Peter Martselos
leader_title1 = Senior Administrative Officer
leader_name1 = Roy Scott
leader_title2 = MLA
leader_name2 = Michael Miltenberger
established_title = Town
established_date = 1 October 1966
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area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 92.79
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population_as_of = 2006
population_note =
population_total = 2,364
population_density_km2 = 25.5
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timezone = MST
utc_offset = -7
timezone_DST = MDT
utc_offset_DST = -6
latd=60 |latm=00 |lats=19 |latNS=N
longd=111 |longm=53 |longs=26 |longEW=W
elevation_m = 205
postal_code_type = Postal code
postal_code = X0E 0P0
area_code = 867
blank_name = Telephone Exchange
blank_info = 872
blank1_name = GNBC Code
blank1_info = LAILN
blank2_name = NTS Map
blank2_info = 075D04
website =
footnotes = Sources:Community Governance Data List [http://www.maca.gov.nt.ca/governments/printpage.asp?Other=FALSE Community Governance Data List] ] ,
2006 Canada Census, [http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/profiles/community/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=6106001&Geo2=PR&Code2=61&Data=Count&SearchText=Fort%20Smith&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom= 2006 Census] ]
Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre [http://www.pwnhc.ca/programs/downloads/OfficialCommunityNames.pdf Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre - official names] ] ,
Fort Smith profile at the Legislative Assembly [ [http://www.assembly.gov.nt.ca/_live/pages/wpPages/mapfortsmith.aspx Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, Fort Smith profile] ]
Canada Flight Supplement [CFS]

Fort Smith (Slavey language: Thebacha "beside the rapids") is a town in the South Slave Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. It is located in the southeastern portion of the Northwest Territories, on the Slave River and adjacent to the NWT/Alberta border.

The town is approximately 300 km (186 mi) southeast of Yellowknife, the territorial capital. The park headquarters for Wood Buffalo National Park is located in Fort Smith. The headquarters and Thebacha campus of Aurora College is located in Fort Smith, it is the largest of the three campus locations in the NWT. Fort Smith is located in the South Slave Region (administrative) and the Fort Smith Region (census division).

According to the 2006 Census, it has a population of 2,364, the majority of which are First Nations. The main languages are Chipewyan, Cree, Michif, English.

Fort Smith is the home of the Northern Life Museum and home of the museum ship Radium King.

Every year the South Slave Friendship Festival, a music and arts festival, occurs in Fort Smith, usually in August. Musicians and artists from across the Northwest Territories and many other faraway places come to interact with other artists and show off their talents to the public.

Fort Smith used to be a major transportation site. Goods were brought up to the nearby community of Fort Fitzgerald, Alberta and portaged on land to avoid four sets of impassable rapids (Pelican, Mountain, Cassette and the Rapids of the Drowned). The goods were then placed back into the water at the Slave River in Fort Smith where they travelled north, along lakes and other rivers (such as the Mackenzie River) to destinations as far away as the Arctic Coast. Of course the construction of roads (the main one from the south being the Mackenzie Highway with connections to Hay River) have put Fort Smith out of the water transportation business.

Fort Smith was the former administative capital of the NWT prior to Yellowknife becoming the capital in 1967 and remains largely a government town. See History of Northwest Territories capital cities

However, many tourists come to see the world-class Slave River and many kayakers try its rapids.

Fort Smith is represented by the Salt River First Nation #195 [ [http://www.srfn195.com/ Salt River First Nation] ] and are part of the Akaitcho Territory Government. [ [http://sdiprod2.inac.gc.ca/fnprofiles/FNProfiles_Details.asp?Band_Number=759 First Nation Profiles] ]

The Northwest Territory Métis Nation is located in Fort Smith. In 1996, a Framework Agreement was signed with the Government of the NWT and the Government of Canada to commence negotiations on land, resources and self-government. [ [http://www.nwtmetisnation.ca Northwest Territory Métis Nation] ]

ee also

*Fort Smith Airport
*Fort Smith (District) Heliport

References

External links

* [http://www.stats.gov.nt.ca/Infrastructure/Comm%20Sheets/Smith.html Fort Smith at the GNWT]
* [http://www.maca.gov.nt.ca/governments/communityresult.asp?ComCode=100 Municipal Affairs and Community Administration profile]
* [http://www.fortsmith.ca Official website]
* [http://www.auroracollege.nt.ca Aurora College] - Official School Website
* [http://www.saltcollege.com Pentecostal Sub-Arctic Leadership Training College] - Official School Website