Culture
IN PICTURES: An afternoon at the 2026 YKDFN Xat’ǫ̀ Gathering
Yellowknives Dene First Nation's three-day cultural celebration, at the Wiìliìdeh site, enjoyed good weather and great crowds
Vehicles were parked all along the shoulders near the entrance of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation (YKDFN) 2026 Xat’ǫ̀ (Fall) Gathering, a three-day cultural celebration over the weekend, at the Wiìliìdeh site on the Yellowknife River.
Stated the YKDFN: “The Xat’ǫ̀ Gathering is a powerful expression of who we are as Yellowknives Dene – a celebration of our identity, culture, language and land. It provides opportunities for youth, adults and Elders to come together in celebration of Dene traditions in a respectful and meaningful way, and to share our values with the broader community. All are welcome to join us. We look forward to welcoming community members, partners, friends and guests to Chief Drygeese Territory.”
CKLB’s James O’Connor spent Sunday afternoon enjoying the sights and sounds, with camera in hand.
Look for further coverage of the event today on CKLB over the air and online.
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- A major handgames tournament attracted players and onlookers at the Yellowknives Dene First Nation 2026 Xat’ǫ̀ (Fall) Gathering, a three-day cultural celebration, from August 20th to 23rd at the Wiìliìdeh site on the Yellowknife River. (James O’Connor/CKLB)
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- A major handgames tournament attracted players and onlookers at the Yellowknives Dene First Nation 2026 Xat’ǫ̀ (Fall) Gathering, a three-day cultural celebration, from August 20th to 23rd at the Wiìliìdeh site on the Yellowknife River. (James O’Connor/CKLB)
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- A major handgames tournament attracted players and onlookers at the Yellowknives Dene First Nation 2026 Xat’ǫ̀ (Fall) Gathering, a three-day cultural celebration, from August 20th to 23rd at the Wiìliìdeh site on the Yellowknife River. (James O’Connor/CKLB)
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- A major handgames tournament attracted players and onlookers at the Yellowknives Dene First Nation 2026 Xat’ǫ̀ (Fall) Gathering, a three-day cultural celebration, from August 20th to 23rd at the Wiìliìdeh site on the Yellowknife River. (James O’Connor/CKLB)
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- A major handgames tournament attracted players and onlookers at the Yellowknives Dene First Nation 2026 Xat’ǫ̀ (Fall) Gathering, a three-day cultural celebration, from August 20th to 23rd at the Wiìliìdeh site on the Yellowknife River. (James O’Connor/CKLB)
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- A major handgames tournament attracted players and onlookers at the Yellowknives Dene First Nation 2026 Xat’ǫ̀ (Fall) Gathering, a three-day cultural celebration, from August 20th to 23rd at the Wiìliìdeh site on the Yellowknife River. (James O’Connor/CKLB)
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- Some younger folks had their own games at the Yellowknives Dene First Nation 2026 Xat’ǫ̀ (Fall) Gathering, a three-day cultural celebration, from August 20th to 23rd at the Wiìliìdeh site on the Yellowknife River. (James O’Connor/CKLB)
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- There were large crowds — and some dogs — enjoying good times Sunday at the Yellowknives Dene First Nation 2026 Xat’ǫ̀ (Fall) Gathering, a three-day cultural celebration, from August 20th to 23rd at the Wiìliìdeh site on the Yellowknife River. (James O’Connor/CKLB)
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- The Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre’s travelling version of its commercial fishing history exhibition called Fish for Sale: A History of Commercial Fishing on Great Slave Lake, housed inside a repurposed 10×16-foot bright blue skid shack (fishing caboose), which included some snapshots caught in a net at the Yellowknives Dene First Nation 2026 Xat’ǫ̀ (Fall) Gathering, a three-day cultural celebration, from August 20th to 23rd at the Wiìliìdeh site on the Yellowknife River. (James O’Connor/CKLB)
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- The Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre’s travelling version of its commercial fishing history exhibition called Fish for Sale: A History of Commercial Fishing on Great Slave Lake, housed inside a repurposed 10×16-foot bright blue skid shack (fishing caboose), which included some snapshots caught in a net at the Yellowknives Dene First Nation 2026 Xat’ǫ̀ (Fall) Gathering, a three-day cultural celebration, from August 20th to 23rd at the Wiìliìdeh site on the Yellowknife River. (James O’Connor/CKLB)
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- The Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre’s travelling version of its commercial fishing history exhibition called Fish for Sale: A History of Commercial Fishing on Great Slave Lake, housed inside a repurposed 10×16-foot bright blue skid shack (fishing caboose), which included some snapshots caught in a net at the Yellowknives Dene First Nation 2026 Xat’ǫ̀ (Fall) Gathering, a three-day cultural celebration, from August 20th to 23rd at the Wiìliìdeh site on the Yellowknife River. (James O’Connor/CKLB)
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- In the raffle and 50/50 draw tent at the Yellowknives Dene First Nation 2026 Xat’ǫ̀ (Fall) Gathering, donations were being accepted for Mary Rose Blackduck and her family, who are going through some extremely challenging times. Mary Rose is the longstanding Tłı̨chǫ language announcer at CKLB 101.9, who has been off work for some time due to medical issues. On August 22nd, there was a wake for her son Winter Ryan Blackduck, who passed away on July 31st at the age of 41. A funeral mass will be held at St. Patrick’s Co-Cathedral in Yellowknife, on Monday, August 24th. Our sincere condolences to Mary Rose and her family. (James O’Connor/CKLB)
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- Cribbage was a popular game at the Yellowknives Dene First Nation 2026 Xat’ǫ̀ (Fall) Gathering, a three-day cultural celebration, from August 20th to 23rd at the Wiìliìdeh site on the Yellowknife River. (James O’Connor/CKLB)
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- There was a tent providing information and collecting comments on the proposed route of the Arctic Economic and Security Corridor — a planned all-season road connecting the NWT to the Nunavut border — at the Yellowknives Dene First Nation 2026 Xat’ǫ̀ (Fall) Gathering, from August 20th to 23rd at the Wiìliìdeh site on the Yellowknife River. (James O’Connor/CKLB)
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- There were large crowds enjoying good times on all three days of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation 2026 Xat’ǫ̀ (Fall) Gathering, a three-day cultural celebration, from August 20th to 23rd at the Wiìliìdeh site on the Yellowknife River. (James O’Connor/CKLB)
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- You could smell the barbecue all over the Yellowknives Dene First Nation 2026 Xat’ǫ̀ (Fall) Gathering, from August 20th to 23rd at the Wiìliìdeh site on the Yellowknife River. (James O’Connor/CKLB)
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- There were large crowds enjoying good times on all three days of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation 2026 Xat’ǫ̀ (Fall) Gathering, a three-day cultural celebration, from August 20th to 23rd at the Wiìliìdeh site on the Yellowknife River. (James O’Connor/CKLB)
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- Vehicles line Ingraham Trail (Highway 4) for people attending the the Yellowknives Dene First Nation 2026 Xat’ǫ̀ (Fall) Gathering, a three-day cultural celebration, from August 20th to 23rd at the Wiìliìdeh site on the Yellowknife River. (James O’Connor/CKLB)
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