Tsiigehtchic

Community Name: Tsiigehtchic
Traditional/Former Name: Arctic Red River
Land Claim Area: Gwich'in
Electoral District: Mackenzie-Delta
Member of the Legislative Assembly: Frederick Blake Jr.
Member of Parliament:  Dennis Bevington
Senator: Nick G. Sibbeston
Community Leader:

Chief Philip Blake
Charter Community of Tsiigehtchic
General Delivery 
Tsiigehtchic, NT  X0E 0B0
 Phone:  867- 953-3201
sao@tsiigehtchic.ca 

Location:  Tsiigehtchic is located at the confluence of the Arctic Red River and the Mackenzie River at 67'27'N latitude and 133'44'W longitude. The community is 96 km south of Inuvik on the Dempster Highway and is 1011 km northwest of Yellowknife.

Population:  136 (NWT Bureau of Statistics, 2010)

Languages:  Gwich'in, English

Access:  The community is connected to Inuvik and Fort McPherson by ferry. Barge service from Hay River is active in June.

Historty:  Traditionally a fishing camp, the Roman Catholic Mission was established in 1868 and a trading post soon followed. By 1940 only three permanent families lived in the settlement however the construction of the Dempster Highway attracted more residents.

Today tradition is alive and well in Tsiigehtchic with trapping, fishing and hunting still being key aspects of many residents livelihood. Ferry crossing maintenance and operation provides a few jobs and the local retail store/post office is run by the band.