Fort Liard

Community Name:            Fort Liard
Traditional Name:    Echaot'l Koe (people from the land of the giants)
Land Claim Area:                Deh Cho Treaty 11
Electoral District:               Nahendeh
Member of the Legislative Assembly:  Kevin Menicoche 
Member of Parliament:    Dennis Bevington
Senator:                                Nick G. Sibbeston
Community Leader:           Mayor Wayne Newbury 
                                    Hamlet of Fort Liard
                                    General Delivery
                                    Fort Liard, NT  X0G 0A0
                                    Phone:  867-770-4104
                                    e-mail: sao@ftliard.com

Location:  Located at 60'15N latitude and 123'28W longitude, Fort Liard sits at the confluence of the Petitot and Liard Rivers, approximately 240 km due north of Fort Nelson, B.C. Yellowknife is 544 km to the north-east of the Hamlet.

Population:  596 (2004 Census)

Languages:  South Slavey, English

Access:  Fort Liard is accessible by both road and air.

History:  The area has been occupied for many generations and by many tribes including the Small Knives and the Slavey Dene tribes. The Northwest Company set up a post where the Liard and Petitot rivers meet prior to 1807. The Post merged with the Hudson Bay Company in 1821. After several turbulent years the area stabilized and began to flourish.

The introduction of oil and gas, tourism and business has changed the traditional way of life however many residents still pursue this lifestyle. Trapping, hunting, fishing, summer forest firefighting, arts and crafts, provision of local services and forestry are major economic factors.