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Community, Environment, Featured, News, Weather June 16, 2023

These researchers were helping the N.W.T.’s small communities. Then the fires came

'[I'm] concerned and worried about a place and people that I've really grown to care about,' says one PhD candidate


For Carla Johnston, Sambaa K’e has a special place in her heart. Johnston, a PhD candidate with the Balsillie School of International Affairs, has been working with communities in the territory since 2019. Her work focuses on integrating Indigenous knowledge and practices in the design of local and global food…

Community, Environment, Featured, News, Weather June 7, 2023

Residents return to KFN, while wildfire approaches Sambaa K’e

"My heart goes out to everyone that lost their homes," says KFN Chief April Martel


After weeks of fear and uncertainty, residents of Kátł’odeeche First Nation (KFN) are starting to return home. In a message posted to social media on June 6, KFN said residents could once again start returning to the community. Power, water and sewer services have not yet been restored. Returning residents…

Community, Environment, Featured, News, Weather May 25, 2023

Hay River prepares to re-open, while the fires rage on

Residents of Hay River may be able to return this week, while KFN residents await a re-entry plan


Hay River residents are expected to return home as early as May 26, although the possibility of evacuation remains. That is according to the town of Hay River in a post on its official Facebook page. While Hay River Residents prepare to return home, over 300 members from Kátł’odeeche First Nation…

Community, Environment, Featured, News, Weather May 19, 2023

Fort McPherson, Aklavik remain calm and positive amid rising waters

"At least in my lifetime, I've never encountered this type of a situation before in Fort McPherson," says the Gwich'in Grand Chief


Connor Charlie says he’s never experienced anything like this before. Over the past week, he’s watched the Peel River slowly rise around his community of Fort McPherson, claiming many cabins in the low-lying area around the community. But even after learning that his family’s cabin had been washed away, Charlie,…

Community, Environment, Featured, News, Weather May 15, 2023

Hay River, KFN residents take shelter in Yellowknife as fire rages on

The blaze had claimed 15 buildings in KFN as of Monday morning


Anne Kasper remembers pitch-black smoke consuming the sky and an “unbearable” smell in the air like burning moss. “We don’t know what happened,” said Kasper, a 54-year-old resident of the K’atl’odeeche First Nation (KFN). “It was a tiny little fire, and then it just got crazy out of control.” Kasper…

Community, Environment, Featured, News, Weather October 21, 2022

“It was just heartbreaking”: Scotty Creek team still tallying losses from wildfire devastation

Five of the camp's nine buildings were burned to the ground in last week's fire


William Alger was one of the first people to see the devastation at Scotty Creek firsthand. “It was just heartbreaking,” says Alger, the project’s lead guardian, who has worked with the team since early 2020. He was on the scene immediately after a naturally-caused wildfire tore through the camp and…

Environment, Featured, News, Weather October 18, 2022

Update: Crews were unable to fight Scotty Creek blaze directly due to strong winds

Five out of nine buildings were "burned to the ground," according to the LKFN


Updated Thursday, Oct. 20 at 10:00 a.m. While the Scotty Creek Research Centre was being devastated by wildfire over the weekend, fire crews were unable to fight the blaze directly due to extreme winds, according to a spokesperson for the department of Environment and Natural Resources (ENR). “The unfortunate reality…