Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories

Infobox Settlement
name = Fort Simpson
native_name = Liidli Kue
other_name = Location map polarx
CanadaGeo
caption =
lon_shift = 4.1
label= Fort Simpson
label-size=70 | lat_skew=1.2
background = #DDDD22
position=top
lat = 61.863056
long = -121.355
mark=Green_pog.svg
marksize=6
width=250
float=right
settlement_type = Village
motto =


imagesize =
image_caption =


flag_size =
image_

seal_size =
image_shield = Fortsimpsonlogo.gif
shield_size =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name =
subdivision_type1 = Territory
subdivision_name1 = Northwest Territories
subdivision_type2 = Region
subdivision_name2 = Dehcho Region
subdivision_type3 = Constituency
subdivision_name3 = Nahendeh
subdivision_type4 = Census division
subdivision_name4 = Fort Smith Region, Northwest Territories
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Duncan Canvin
leader_title1 = Senior Administrative Officer
leader_name1 = Tom Matus
leader_title2 = MLA
leader_name2 = Kevin Menicoche
established_title = Settled
established_date = 1803
established_title2 = Village
established_date2 = 1822
area_land_km2 = 78.32
elevation_m = 169
latd= 61.863056
longd= -121.355
population_total = 1,216
population_density_km2 = 15.5
timezone = Mountain (MST)
utc_offset = -7
timezone_DST = MDT
utc_offset_DST = -6
postal_code_type = Canadian Postal code
postal_code = X0E 0N0
area_code = 867
blank_name = Telephone exchange
blank_info = 695
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=6106038&Geo2=PR&Code2=61&Data=Count&SearchText=Fort%20Simpson&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 Simpson profile at the Legislative Assembly [ [http://www.assembly.gov.nt.ca/_live/pages/wpPages/mapfortsimpson.aspx Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, Fort Simpson profile] ]
Canada Flight Supplement [CFS]

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). 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. [ [http://www.fortsimpson.com/history.html Fort Simpson Historical Society] ]

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. [ [http://www.explorenwt.com/resources/events/eventDetail.asp?ID=87 Explore NWT - Beavertail Jamboree] ]

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. [ [http://www.openskyfestival.ca Open Sky Creative Society] ]

The Dene of the community are represented by the Liidli Kue First Nation [ [http://www.dehchofirstnations.com/members/fort_simpson.htm Liidli Kue First Nation] ] and the Métis by Fort Simpson Metis Local 52. [ [http://www.dehchofirstnations.com/members/fort_simpson_metis.htm Fort Simpson Metis] ] Both groups belong to the Dehcho First Nations. [ [http://www.dehchofirstnations.com/members/index.html Dehcho First Nations] ]

ee also

*Fort Simpson Island Airport
*Fort Simpson Island Water Aerodrome
*Fort Simpson/Canadian Helicopters Heliport
*Fort Simpson/(Great Slave) Heliport

References

External links

* [http://www.stats.gov.nt.ca/Infrastructure/Comm%20Sheets/Simpson.html Fort Simpson at the GNWT]
* [http://www.maca.gov.nt.ca/governments/communityresult.asp?ComCode=200 Municipal Affairs and Community Administration profile]
* [http://survivingcanada.resist.ca/image/tid/16 Photos]