Jean Marie River

Community Name:            Jean Marie River
Traditional/Former Name:  Tthedzehk'edeli (water flowing over clay)
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:        Chief Stanley Sanguez 
                                  Jean Marie River First Nation
                                  General Delivery
                                  Fort Simpson, NT  X0E 0N0
                                  Phone:  867-809-2000
                                  e-mail: jmrband@ssimicro.com

Location:  Located at the confluence of the Mackenzie and Jean Marie Rivers, Jean Marie River is located at 61'32'N latitude and 120'38'W longitude and is 302 air km southwest of Yellowknife.

Population:  70 (2004 Census)

Languages:  South Slavey, English

Access:  Chartered aircraft is the only air access to the community. Summer barge service is provided from Fort Simpson and Hay River. In the winter Jean Marie River is connected to the Mackenzie Highway.

History:  In 1915 a local man built a log warehouse and turned it into a trading post. Fifty years later in 1964-65 the Hudson Bay Company opened a competing store and in 1965 the Co-op opened a sawmill.

Today the traditional Slavey arts and crafts porcupine quill and moosehair tufting, are important to the economy. Hunting, trapping and fishing are other vital parts along with the sawmill that still provides timber for fuel and construction.