Fort Good Hope facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fort Good Hope
Rádeyı̨lı̨kóé
Fort Hope, Fort Charles
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Charter Community
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 Fort Good Hope
Location in Northwest Territories
Fort Good Hope
Location in Canada
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| Country | Canada |
| Territory | Northwest Territories |
| Region | Sahtu |
| Settlement area | Sahtu |
| Constituency | Sahtu |
| Charter Community | 1 April 1995 |
| Area | |
| • Land | 47.25 km2 (18.24 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 268 m (879 ft) |
| Population
(2021)
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| • Total | 507 |
| • Density | 10.7/km2 (28/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC−07:00 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−06:00 (MDT) |
| Canadian Postal code |
X0E 0H0
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| Area code(s) | 867 |
| Telephone exchange | 598 |
| - Living cost | 177.5 |
| - Food price index | 166.9 |
| Sources: Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, Canada Flight Supplement 2013 figure based on Edmonton = 100 2015 figure based on Yellowknife = 100 |
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Fort Good Hope is a small community in the Northwest Territories, Canada. It is also known as Rádeyı̨lı̨kóé in the local language. This community is located on a piece of land that sticks out into the Mackenzie River. It is about 145 kilometers (90 miles) northwest of Norman Wells.
About 500 people live here, and most are Indigenous. The main languages spoken are North Slavey and English. Many people earn a living through hunting and trapping.
The community is home to the Church of Our Lady of Good Hope. This church is a National Historic Site. It was finished in 1885 and is a very important building.
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Exploring Fort Good Hope's Past
Fort Good Hope started as a place for trading furs. The North West Company set it up in 1804 or 1805. It was called Fort Good Hope, but also Fort Hope and Fort Charles.
The trading post moved several times over the years. It was first between the Arctic Red River and Peel River. Later, it moved to the west bank of the Mackenzie River. Flooding caused the HBC to move it twice more. In 1836, it settled on the east banks where it is now.
The fur trading business ended in 1918. It then became a retail store, now known as Northern Stores.
Who Lives in Fort Good Hope?
The population of Fort Good Hope is about 500 people. In the 2021 Census, 507 people lived in the community. This was a small change from 516 people in 2016.
Most of the people living here are Indigenous. In 2006, 465 residents were Indigenous. This included 435 First Nations people.
Getting Around Fort Good Hope
The easiest way to reach Fort Good Hope all year is by air. Small planes fly to Fort Good Hope Airport. Flights come from Inuvik, Norman Wells, and Colville Lake.
In summer, you can travel by boat on the Mackenzie River. Large barges use this river to bring supplies. In winter, a special winter road opens up. This road connects Fort Good Hope to Wrigley in the south.
The government is planning to extend the Mackenzie Highway. This would connect Fort Good Hope to the main road system.
First Nations and Local Government
Fort Good Hope is represented by the K’ahsho Got’ine Community Council. This council is part of the Sahtu Dene Council. They are working with the Canadian government. Their goal is to settle land claims for their traditional lands.
Learning in Fort Good Hope
Fort Good Hope offers several places for education.
Young children can attend the Fort Good Hope Daycare.
Older students go to Chief T'Selehye School. This school teaches students from kindergarten to grade 12. It also has the community library. The current school building was rebuilt in 2011.
For those wanting to continue their studies, there is an Aurora College Learning Centre. This center helps students prepare for college. The closest main campus for Aurora College is in Inuvik.
Staying Connected in Fort Good Hope
The community has several ways to stay in touch with the outside world:
- There is a full postal service at the Northern Store.
- Residents can watch satellite television.
- Two radio stations broadcast in the area.
- 4G cellular service became available in August 2013.
Community Services
Fort Good Hope has basic health care services. There is a local community counselling centre. For more serious medical needs, people go to Norman Wells. Very critical cases are sent to Stanton Territorial Hospital in Yellowknife by air ambulance.
The RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) provides policing services. They have a detachment in Fort Good Hope.
Fire services are also available. The community has a fire station with two fire trucks.
Fort Good Hope's Climate
Fort Good Hope has a subarctic climate. This means it has very cold winters. Summers are short and warm.
The highest temperature ever recorded was 37.4°C (99.3°F) on July 8, 2023.
Fort Good Hope also holds a record for extreme cold. On December 31, 1910, the temperature dropped to -61.7°C (-79.1°F). This was the coldest temperature ever recorded in Canada outside of Yukon.
