Wrigley, Northwest Territories

Wrigley Pedzéh Kñ
First Nation (Designated Authority) Pehdzeh Ki First Nation
Wrigley Show map of Northwest Territories Wrigley Show map of Canada
Coordinates: 63°13′41″N 123°28′12″W / 63.22806°N 123.47000°W / 63.22806; -123.47000Coordinates: 63°13′41″N 123°28′12″W / 63.22806°N 123.47000°W / 63.22806; -123.47000
Country	Canada
Territory	Northwest Territories
Region	Dehcho Region
Constituency	Nahendeh
Census division	Region 4
Settled	1965
Government
• Chief	Maurice Moses
• Community Officer	Sharon Pellissey
• MLA	Shane Thompson
Area[1]
• Total	55.84 km2 (21.56 sq mi)
Elevation	149 m (489 ft)
Population (2016)[1]
• Total	119
• Density	2.1/km2 (5/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC−7 (Mountain (MST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
Canadian Postal code	X0E 1E0
Telephone exchange	581
- Living cost	152.5A
- Food price index	173.6B
Sources: Department of Municipal and Community Affairs,[2] Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre,[3] Canada Flight Supplement[4] ^A 2013 figure based on Edmonton = 100[5] ^B 2015 figure based on Yellowknife = 100[5]

Wrigley (South Slavey language: Pehdzeh Ki "clay place") is a "Designated Authority"^[6] in the Dehcho Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. The Slavey Dene community is located on the east bank of the Mackenzie River, just below its confluence with the Wrigley River and about 466 mi (750 km) northwest of Yellowknife.

Originally situated at Fort Wrigley, 16 km (9.9 mi) downstream. The community relocated to its present location in 1965, in part because it was more easily accessible due to the World War II era, Wrigley Airport, built for the Canol Project and, in part due to the swampy nature of the land around Fort Wrigley.^[7][8] Today the community can be reached via the Mackenzie Highway. The population continues to maintain a traditional lifestyle, trapping, hunting, and fishing.

The community was named for Joseph Wrigley who was the Hudson's Bay Company Chief Commissioner for British North America (1884-1891).^[7][9]

The Franklin Mountains, which are also on the east bank of the Mackenzie River, overlook the community. Cap Mountain, 1,228 m (4,029 ft), is the highest peak in the range and is within walking distance of the community. Although not as well known as the Rabbitkettle Hot Springs the Roche qui trempe a l’eau sulphur springs are located downstream of Wrigley.^[7]

Demographics

Population is 133 according to the 2016 Census, an decrease of 10.5% from the 201 Census The majority of the population (110 people) is First Nations and the predominant languages are North and South Slavey and English.^[1]

In 2017 the Government of the Northwest Territories reported that the population was 135 with an average yearly growth rate of 1.1% from 2007.^[5]

First Nations

The S.S. Mackenzie River and three barges tied up at Fort Wrigley in 1946

The Dene of the community are represented by the Pehdzeh Ki First Nation and belong to the Dehcho First Nations.^[11] The last of the Numbered Treaties, Treaty 11, was signed here 13 July 1921. At that time the Headman was paid $22 and $12 for everybody else.^[12]

Services

The community has one store, a health centre and a two-person RCMP detachment.^[13]

Education

The community has a K-9 school, Chief Julian Yendo School with an enrolment of 24 as of 2018. After completion of grade 9 students go to the Thomas Simpson Secondary School in Fort Simpson.^[14]

Climate

Wrigley has an continental subarctic climate. The area combines warm, short summers with long and very cold winters. The differences between the coldest and warmest month are rather extreme even by continental standards, with the January high being −21 °C (−6 °F) and the July high being 23 °C (73 °F) according to Environment Canada. Transitional seasons are rather short.

References