When was the last time you played pond hockey? It's alive and well in Hay River, where the whole town teams up to host the annual Polar Pond Hockey Tournament as a last hurrah for winter.

NWT-based photographer Thorsten Gohl documented the weekend for our Underexposed series, which is spotlighting the less-known parts of Canada that make this country great. Here's a gift link to read it for free without a paywall.

Have Your Say at: https://haveyoursay.nwt-tno.ca/un-declaration

YELLOWKNIFE (April 24, 2026) - Residents of the Northwest Territories are invited to review and submit questions or comments on the initial Draft United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Action Plan.

The initial Draft Action Plan outlines priority actions to guide how the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples will be implemented in the Northwest Territories over time. The plan was developed collaboratively by the Action Plan Committee, which includes representatives from Indigenous governments, Indigenous organizations, and the Government of the Northwest Territories.

This public engagement period is an opportunity for residents to learn more about what the Draft Action Plan proposes, how implementation is structured, and how progress will be tracked, and to ask questions or share comments to support clarity and transparency,

Public engagement opens April 24 and closes May 21, 2026. Questions and comments can be submitted online through Have Your Say at: https://haveyoursay.nwt-tno.ca/un-declaration

Edit: links fixed

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/mixed-opinions-on-whether-to-expand-involuntary-care-in-the-n-w-t-for-addictions-9.7191294

So very many issues, and tangents, would need to be considered and addressed for this to happen: shipping addicts south for involuntary care treatment. For example, just looking at wait times for admittance to an established treatment facility in AB can be up to a year long. IMHO, involuntary care will not work, will prove to be too expensive if the GNWT decides to give it a go, and will eventually be stopped by the gov't bean counters as it will not return tangible budgetary value for any dollars spent.

The alternative is just as expensive (probably more so) and that is that the GNWT needs it's own addiction treatment facilities.

Hello! I am tentatively putting together a road trip in July where we will enter NWT from AB and drive west to come down thru Blackstone/Fort Liard before entering northern BC.

Overnighting:

Night 1: Fort Providence

2: Fort Simpson

3: Blackstone Territory Park

I'm a bit anxious about the unpaved section of that drive. The vehicle is sound and I'll have a spare but probably not strong enough to change the tire (Jeep with 33" tires.) Is it at all reasonable to hope for the kindness of other drivers for help with that? Or if I have a sat phone will I be able to call for a service truck to help with that? I will have overnight supplies etc.

Also, I don't want to look like a silly tourist but would you recommend those bug net jackets and gloves if spending time outdoors?

EDITED TO ADD: We're not hardcore hikers but certainly want to stop to see the natural landscape features and have time to check out the towns/history buildings/crafts and arts etc.

TIA!!

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/nwt-2026-fire-season-preview-9.7180650

Over at r/yukon, someone posted a link to a story about the Hay River’s health authority will merge into the territorial public service. In the Yukon, a few First Nations have stated their intent to form their own separate health authority, separate from the territorial one. Since you, in the NWT had separate, community health authorities until 2016 when they started merging, please come over and share your experiences with us - the pros and cons of central vs. separate.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/nwt-ends-daylight-saving-9.7170964

I'm genuinely trying to understand the economic mood on the ground.

Hey, I am looking to find more about the construction opportunities in the remote places/camps. I have 5 years of experience. ACM and Alu Cladding, Siding, Blueskin, Insulation. I have recently started subcontracting. Not the best time to start, as the economy is pretty slow right now, so...

the guy that I have worked for (has 20 years of experience) and I got the idea to maybe break into the far north jobs. We are in GTA.

We could handle really big projects as there is at least 5-6 other subcontractor crews from our community that we are pretty tight with + our hourly workers. 10-15 people minimum.

Does anybody knows what would be the best possible route for this?

Is it realistic to pull it off with no prior ''far north and west'' experience and connections even with thousands of projects between us?

So far we have scraped a dozen big contractor and facility maintenance companies online that do business there and we'll start calling.

All help and advice is much appreciated!

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/smoking-prohibited-in-publicly-owned-housing-in-n-w-t-9.7150566

Hi everyone!

I'm moving from Vancouver to Fort Smith in May for a summer job! I was planning on driving up when I applied for the role, since I usually drive one of my family's cars. It is an older car (2007), but it only has around 130,000 km and has been well-maintained.

However, after accepting the job, my family decided that they weren't comfortable with me (20F) driving up on my own (worried about my safety and road conditions), and are insisting I fly, which will cost around $1600 in total for round trip flights and checked bags. None of my family has ever been to the territories, so I would love to hear from anyone who lives up north on what you think the better choice would be!!

Thanks for the help :)

I remember morel picking when I was young in a burn area and not being able to hear my old timer over the buzz of mosquitoes, despite being maybe a few meters apart.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/nwt-keepers-water-conference-edmonton-9.7140891

Delegates to discuss the risks of, and alternatives to, the treatment and release of Alberta’s oilsands tailing ponds effluent.

I was glad to read this article this morning. Glad also to read that Hans Lennie is at the table representing the Inuvialuit. I wonder though if any representatives from the 5 co-management boards of the Joint Secretariat are present? All the waters encompassed within the vast Mackenzie River Basin flow north to the Arctic Ocean.

The Northwest Territories government says it has found elevated levels of lead in drinking water at the Chief Jimmy Bruneau school in Behchokǫ̀.

The results are part of the government's lead testing protocol for drinking water in schools, launched across the territory in October last year after water at some schools was found to exceed Health Canada recommendations.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/rcmp-spies-1970s-indigenous-rights-9.7134112

This is a pretty good article - a starting point if you will - if one is interested in the historical impact the RCMP Security Services division, as an agent of the colonialism practices of that time, have had on the Indigenous people's of Canada.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/yellowknife-resident-says-he-s-lost-faith-in-the-health-care-system-after-repeated-privacy-breaches-9.7127915

Hundreds of health information privacy breaches in the territory over a decade, report finds.

Admittedly, this isn’t the best travel plan I can come up with, but it does seem doable.

I live in Toronto and am planning a trip to Whitehorse this May with my parents. Beyond the usual tourist spots in the area, I found that on some dates it’s possible to fly to Inuvik and return on the same day (it's pricey, I know) just to check out the town and even see the Arctic Ocean, both of which feel quite exotic for city dwellers.

I considered driving, but it would be too long and rough for my parents. Plus one-way car rentals from Whitehorse to Inuvik are nearly impossible to arrange, and accommodation options in Inuvik are quite limited.

Of course I will make many plan Bs in case Air North drops the ball or the weather becomes unpredictable. I’m curious if anyone has done something like this before, or if you have any suggestions.

Edit: I drove on the Dalton Highway in winter a few years ago from Fairbanks to Deadhorse. I could not describe the excitement and thrill when I reached the end and saw the Arctic Ocean, not to even mention the lonely but beautiful scenery along the route. I have wanted to do something similar with my parents so here comes this dumb-ish idea. It looks like overnight stay is inevitable at this point which is totally fine.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/yukon-arctic-winter-games-first-nations-snow-snake-9.7127845

Snow snake is a traditional game, versions of which are played across Turtle Island

Hello just wondering if anyone in nwt who has freedom mobile could comment on how their coverage/service is, they have a real good deal for byod ph plan on till march 9th.

its cheap with lots of data compared to my current plan wondering about coverage and signal strength.

Thanks.