Mackenzie Delta - Fort Providence - Jean Marie River - Fort Simpson
Entering the Mackenzie
Canada's Mackenzie River Delta—an intricate network of river channels, lakes, and ponds—could be the site of new drilling waste pits.
But will the delta remain cold enough to keep the wastes frozen ?
Pelicans in the Mackenzie !
Fort Providence, with a population of 748 (as of 1996), was formerly called by the traditional name of Zhahti Koe (meaning "mission house") and is located at 61°21'N lat. and 117°39'W long., on the source of the Mackenzie (flowing from the Great Slave Lake). Local languages are South Slavey and English
Sundown on the Mackenzie River
The Town Of Jean Marie River from the water
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. The population of Jean Marie River is 53.
We are getting ready for a flight .
Fort Simpson from the air
Fort Simpson's origins as a community began in 1803 as Fort of the Forks. Fort of the Forks existed solely as a fur trading site and was situated near what is now known as Fort Simpson. The Village of Fort Simpson became a permanent settlement July 1822 when the Hudson's Bay Company began construction of a trading post, naming it for George Simpson, then Governor of Rupert's Land. Until 1910 this was "a company town", with some participation by the Anglican and Roman Catholic Missions. The Dene know it as Liidli Kue, meaning The place where the rivers come together, and for many hundreds of years it had been an important place to gather and celebrate each summer after the break-up of the ice. In the 19th century, European fur traders, explorers, Christian missionaries and others moved into the Dene homeland with the result that the European influence, while important to the development of Canada as a whole, has tended to obscure the rich cultural history of the Dene. The loss of a traditional way of life has contributed greatly to many of the region's current social problems. There exists a tremendous need for communal healing and cultural revival: preservation and adaptive re-use of some of the Fort Simpson's old buildings is one avenue to achieve community wellness, pride and self-determination.
No building from the 19th century has survived but eight, built before 1940, still stand.
Ted Grant the President of Simpson Air, Dan and I
Simpson Air, the oldest established flying business in the Mackenzie Valley, has been offering air charter service in the Nahanni-Ram area since the 1960's. Ted Grant, President and cheif Pilot, was captivated in 1976 by the wonderous scenery while being stationed in Fort Simpson with the RCMP, and purchased the company in 1981. Ted and his staff has played host to many tourists from around the world including Britains' Prince Andrew ,Dr. Werner Neifer, Former Chairman of Mercedes Benz,plus foreign ambassadors ,senatorsand sports personalitites.
Simpson Air conveniently operates from the island airstrip in Fort Simpson providing wheeled or float-equipped aircraft for charter services.
For information regarding Tours and Charters please contact:
Telephone (001) 867 695 2505
Toll Free 1 866 995 2505
FAX (001)867 695 2925
Postal address Box 260 Fort Simpson,
Northwest Territories Canada X0E 0N0
Electronic mail General Information & Sales : info@simpsonair.ca
Orca at Fort Simpson with the Simpson Air Otter at Landing
Back on the Mackenzie River
The Ferry across the Mackenzie at Hwy 1