Behchoko, Northwest Territories

Behchokò (from the Tlicho meaning "Mbehcho's place"), officially the Tlicho Community Government of Behchokò is a community in the North Slave Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. Behchokò is located on the Yellowknife Highway (Great Slave Highway), on the northwest tip of Great Slave Lake, approximately 80 km (50 mi) northwest of Yellowknife.

History

Formerly known as Rae-Edzo, the name was changed 4 August 2005, with Rae at named after John Rae and Edzo at named after Chief Edzo. The two are 6 km (4 mi) apart by air and 15 km (9 mi) apart by road.(In the winter, the road distance is much shorter due to the winter road across the ice of Marian Lake. The biggest names in Tli Cho history are, Bruneau, and Monfwi. The Bruneau name comes from one of the Tli Cho leaders, Chief Jimmy Bruneau, who died in 1979. There is a school in his name in Edzo, Chief Jimmy Bruneau Regional High School. Chief Monfwi, who created the Tli Cho annual assembly in 1932, but passed in 1936.

According to the 2006 Census, the population is 1,894, most of which is First Nations.

One of the four Tli Cho communities, it is the largest Dene community in Canada. Behchokò was the site of the signing of the Tlicho land claim agreement that brought about the Tlicho Government.

Celebrities

Many celebrities have come through Behchoko, such as Jonathan Torrens, Shelagh Rogers, and former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien.

See also

• Rae/Edzo Airport

References

Further reading

• Northwest Territories, and BHP Billiton Diamonds Inc. Communities and Diamonds Socio-Economic Impacts in the Communities of: Behchoko, Gameti, Whati, Wekweeti, Detah, Ndilo, Lutsel K'e, and Yellowknife : 2005 Annual Report of the Government of the Northwest Territories Under the BHP Billiton, Diavik and De Beers Socio-Economic Agreements. [Yellowknife]: Govt. of the Northwest Territories, 2006.

External links

• Behchoko at the GNWT
• Municipal Affairs and Community Administration profile