Fort Good Hope

Community Name:                  Fort Good Hope
Traditional/Former Name:   Radili Ko (rapids)
Land Claim Area:                     Sahtu
Electoral District:                    Sahtu
Member of the Legislative Assembly:   Norman Yakeleya
Member of Parliament:         Dennis Bevington
Senator:                                    Nick G. Sibbeston
Community Leader:               Chief Frank T'Seleie 
                                       K'asho Got'ine Charter 
                                       Community Council
                                       P.O. Box 80
                                       Fort Good Hope, NT  X0E 0H0
                                       Phone:  867-598-2231
                                       e-mail: tforbes@attcanada.ca

Location:  Fort Good Hope is located at 66'15'N latitude and 128'38'W longitude. Located 805 air km northwest of Yellowknife and 145 km northwest of Norman Wells the community is situated on a peninsula between Jackfish Creek and the east bank of the Mackenzie River where the two meet.

Population:  551 (2004 Census)

Languages:  North Slavey, English

Access:  The community is accessible by air from Inuvik and Norman Wells year round and bulk supplies and food are barged in during the summer months. In the winter an ice road connects Fort Good Hope to communities on the Mackenzie Highway system.

History:  Established in 1805, Fort Good Hope is the oldest settlement in the lower Mackenzie River Valley however it was moved and rebuilt several times until 1839 when the present location was created. Uncontrolled gaming lead to starvation in 1844 however by 1859 when Father Grollier opened the first Roman Catholic Mission the game numbers had returned to normal. After forging peace between the Loucheux Indians and the Inuit in 1860 Father Emile Petitot, the noted missionary and explorer, was stationed there in 1865. Our Lady of Good Hope was built while Petitot resided there. It was during this time that he started the unique murals that adorn the interior. In 1931 the oilfield at Norman Wells opened and employment opportunities improved.

Today the community's economy is based on traditional activities including hunting and trapping. Oil development in Norman Wells is an alternate source of employment. Local services including taxis, hotels, restaurants, retail, accounting and such offer other employment opportunities.