# South Slave Region

The South Slave Region is one of five administrative regions in the Northwest Territories of Canada. According to Municipal and Community Affairs the region consists of seven communities with the regional office situated in Fort Smith and a sub-office in Hay River. With the exception of Enterprise and Hay River the communities are predominantly Indigenous, mainly First Nations.

## Communities

The South Slave Region includes the following communities:
Communities of the South Slave Region :
| Community | Community | Community | Community | Demographics (2021) | Demographics (2021) | Demographics (2021) | Demographics (2021) | Demographics (2021) | Demographics (2021) |
| Name | Name | Governance | Governance | Census | Census | Indigenous population profile | Indigenous population profile | Indigenous population profile | Indigenous population profile |
| Official | Traditional | Type | Municipality | Total | Change (from 2016) | First Nations | Métis | Inuit | Other |
| Enterprise | | Hamlet | Yes | 75 | -29.2% | 20 | 10 | 0 | 65 |
| Fort Providence | Zhahti Kų́ę́ | Hamlet | Yes | 618 | -11.1% | 540 | 45 | 0 | 75 |
| Fort Resolution | Denı́nu Kų́ę́ | Hamlet | Yes | 412 | -12.3% | 300 | 85 | 15 | 75 |
| Fort Smith | Tthebacha | Town | Yes | 2,248 | -11.6% | 985 | 420 | 160 | 1,290 |
| Hay River | Xátł'odehchee | Town | Yes | 3,169 | -10.2% | 910 | 475 | 125 | 2,300 |
| Hay River Dene 1 (Hay River Reserve) | Xátł'odehchee | Indian reserve | No | 259 | -16.2% | 245 | 10 | 0 | 15 |
| Kakisa | K'ágee | Designated authority | No | 39 | 8.3% | Not enumerated | Not enumerated | Not enumerated | Not enumerated |
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 2001 | 7,802 | — |
| 2002 | 7,802 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 7,872 | +0.9% |
| 2004 | 8,027 | +2.0% |
| 2005 | 7,990 | −0.5% |
| 2006 | 7,908 | −1.0% |
| 2007 | 8,002 | +1.2% |
| 2008 | 7,899 | −1.3% |
| 2009 | 7,860 | −0.5% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 2010 | 7,912 | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 7,986 | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 7,983 | −0.0% |
| 2013 | 8,030 | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 8,010 | −0.2% |
| 2015 | 7,993 | −0.2% |
| 2016 | 8,062 | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 8,027 | −0.4% |
Sources: NWT Bureau of Statistics (2001 - 2017). Does not include Kakisa as figures only available for five years. :

## Communities of the South Slave Region

* The Hay River at Enterprise (2019)
* Our Lady of Providence Church, Fort Providence (2019)
* Treaty 8 site at Fort Resolution (2011)
* Fort Smith (2020)
* Fisherman's Wharf, Hay River (2019)
* Ste. Anne's Roman Catholic Church, Haay River Reserve (1998)
* Lady Evelyn Falls outside Kakisa (2018)

## Climate

Climate data for Fort Providence WMO ID: 71087; coordinates 61°19′01″N 117°36′07″W﻿ / ﻿61.31694°N 117.60194°W﻿ / 61.31694; -117.60194﻿ (Fort Providence); elevation: 161.5 m (530 ft); 1991−2020 normals :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high humidex | 10.1 | 9.6 | 16.4 | 22.9 | 31.2 | 35.7 | 37.9 | 36.5 | 31.8 | 24.1 | 11.9 | 11.8 | 37.9 |
| Record high °C (°F) | 7.0 (44.6) | 9.9 (49.8) | 16.5 (61.7) | 22.9 (73.2) | 31.3 (88.3) | 34.3 (93.7) | 35.2 (95.4) | 35.3 (95.5) | 30.7 (87.3) | 24.2 (75.6) | 12.0 (53.6) | 11.8 (53.2) | 35.3 (95.5) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −18.5 (−1.3) | −13.2 (8.2) | −6.5 (20.3) | 4.9 (40.8) | 13.9 (57.0) | 21.3 (70.3) | 23.9 (75.0) | 21.0 (69.8) | 14.3 (57.7) | 3.7 (38.7) | −8.5 (16.7) | −16.6 (2.1) | 3.3 (37.9) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −22.9 (−9.2) | −19.0 (−2.2) | −13.8 (7.2) | −1.9 (28.6) | 7.1 (44.8) | 14.1 (57.4) | 17.1 (62.8) | 14.7 (58.5) | 8.6 (47.5) | −0.1 (31.8) | −12.4 (9.7) | −20.6 (−5.1) | −2.4 (27.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −27.2 (−17.0) | −24.7 (−12.5) | −21.2 (−6.2) | −8.7 (16.3) | 0.3 (32.5) | 6.8 (44.2) | 10.3 (50.5) | 8.3 (46.9) | 2.8 (37.0) | −3.9 (25.0) | −16.1 (3.0) | −24.4 (−11.9) | −8.1 (17.4) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −46.8 (−52.2) | −43.5 (−46.3) | −40.4 (−40.7) | −36.0 (−32.8) | −16.3 (2.7) | −3.5 (25.7) | −2.0 (28.4) | −2.3 (27.9) | −9.9 (14.2) | −27.3 (−17.1) | −36.8 (−34.2) | −43.3 (−45.9) | −46.8 (−52.2) |
| Record low wind chill | −51.2 | −52.5 | −46.5 | −43.0 | −23.8 | −5.2 | −3.2 | −4.2 | −11.8 | −33.7 | −40.9 | −51.0 | −52.5 |
| Average relative humidity (%) (at 1500 LST) | 75.4 | 67.0 | 52.5 | 44.7 | 41.5 | 42.9 | 46.2 | 50.9 | 55.0 | 71.1 | 82.7 | 79.7 | 59.1 |
| Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada ||||||||||||||
Climate data for Fort Smith (Fort Smith Airport) WMO ID: 71934; coordinates 60°01′13″N 111°57′43″W﻿ / ﻿60.02028°N 111.96194°W﻿ / 60.02028; -111.96194﻿ (Fort Smith Airport); elevation: 205.1 m (673 ft); 1991−2020 normals, extremes 1913−present :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high humidex | 8.4 | 11.6 | 16.1 | 29.6 | 32.7 | 38.9 | 41.7 | 38.5 | 31.9 | 25.9 | 12.2 | 8.9 | 41.7 |
| Record high °C (°F) | 8.7 (47.7) | 9.9 (49.8) | 16.7 (62.1) | 24.0 (75.2) | 31.0 (87.8) | 39.9 (103.8) | 39.4 (102.9) | 33.9 (93.0) | 29.4 (84.9) | 24.6 (76.3) | 12.0 (53.6) | 9.4 (48.9) | 39.9 (103.8) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −17.4 (0.7) | −13.2 (8.2) | −5.1 (22.8) | 5.6 (42.1) | 14.8 (58.6) | 21.6 (70.9) | 23.6 (74.5) | 21.2 (70.2) | 14.2 (57.6) | 4.3 (39.7) | −7.0 (19.4) | −14.5 (5.9) | 4.0 (39.2) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −21.9 (−7.4) | −18.8 (−1.8) | −11.9 (10.6) | −0.7 (30.7) | 8.2 (46.8) | 15.0 (59.0) | 17.4 (63.3) | 15.1 (59.2) | 8.9 (48.0) | 0.5 (32.9) | −10.6 (12.9) | −18.6 (−1.5) | −1.4 (29.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −26.2 (−15.2) | −24.3 (−11.7) | −18.6 (−1.5) | −7.1 (19.2) | 1.6 (34.9) | 8.4 (47.1) | 11.1 (52.0) | 9.0 (48.2) | 3.5 (38.3) | −3.3 (26.1) | −14.1 (6.6) | −22.6 (−8.7) | −6.9 (19.6) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −49.4 (−56.9) | −53.9 (−65.0) | −44.4 (−47.9) | −40.6 (−41.1) | −23.0 (−9.4) | −6.1 (21.0) | −3.3 (26.1) | −5.6 (21.9) | −12.8 (9.0) | −27.9 (−18.2) | −40.6 (−41.1) | −57.2 (−71.0) | −57.2 (−71.0) |
| Record low wind chill | −60.4 | −58.4 | −55.7 | −50.4 | −26.2 | −8.0 | 0.0 | −4.7 | −17.8 | −35.3 | −48.8 | −59.6 | −60.4 |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 17.6 (0.69) | 12.7 (0.50) | 14.6 (0.57) | 13.7 (0.54) | 27.2 (1.07) | 47.0 (1.85) | 58.5 (2.30) | 57.4 (2.26) | 42.9 (1.69) | 30.1 (1.19) | 21.9 (0.86) | 16.5 (0.65) | 360.1 (14.18) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 0.1 (0.00) | 0.1 (0.00) | 0.4 (0.02) | 6.6 (0.26) | 22.0 (0.87) | 48.2 (1.90) | 60.2 (2.37) | 61.8 (2.43) | 45.2 (1.78) | 15.7 (0.62) | 1.1 (0.04) | 0.4 (0.02) | 261.7 (10.30) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 24.5 (9.6) | 17.2 (6.8) | 17.0 (6.7) | 7.5 (3.0) | 5.6 (2.2) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.8 (0.3) | 18.9 (7.4) | 29.0 (11.4) | 21.9 (8.6) | 142.2 (56.0) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 13.3 | 10.4 | 10.0 | 7.5 | 9.2 | 10.7 | 12.2 | 13.5 | 12.6 | 14.6 | 13.7 | 13.0 | 140.8 |
| Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 0.15 | 0.12 | 0.54 | 2.7 | 6.6 | 10.0 | 12.2 | 13.2 | 12 | 8.2 | 1.4 | 0.46 | 67.6 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) | 12.9 | 10.2 | 8.6 | 3.6 | 1.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.64 | 8.0 | 14.8 | 14.0 | 74.6 |
| Average relative humidity (%) (at 1500 LST) | 78.6 | 74.7 | 62.2 | 47.7 | 40.1 | 43.0 | 48.3 | 52.6 | 56.8 | 71.1 | 83.1 | 81.9 | 61.7 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 57.1 | 113.7 | 176.7 | 243 | 285.9 | 299.1 | 301 | 261.7 | 132 | 87.3 | 43.5 | 28.3 | 2,029.3 |
| Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada (June maximum) (December minimum) (sun 1951–1980) ||||||||||||||
Climate data for Hay River (Hay River/Merlyn Carter Airport) WMO ID: 71935; coordinates 60°50′23″N 115°46′58″W﻿ / ﻿60.83972°N 115.78278°W﻿ / 60.83972; -115.78278﻿ (Hay River/Merlyn Carter Airport); elevation: 164.9 m (541 ft); 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–present :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high humidex | 10.6 | 12.9 | 17.3 | 25.8 | 31.1 | 35.1 | 44.6 | 39.8 | 32.2 | 25.4 | 12.8 | 11.2 | 44.6 |
| Record high °C (°F) | 10.7 (51.3) | 13.9 (57.0) | 17.6 (63.7) | 26.0 (78.8) | 33.3 (91.9) | 34.0 (93.2) | 35.6 (96.1) | 36.7 (98.1) | 31.7 (89.1) | 25.6 (78.1) | 15.0 (59.0) | 14.4 (57.9) | 36.7 (98.1) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −16.9 (1.6) | −13.7 (7.3) | −7.7 (18.1) | 2.4 (36.3) | 11.4 (52.5) | 18.4 (65.1) | 21.7 (71.1) | 19.9 (67.8) | 13.8 (56.8) | 4.3 (39.7) | −7.0 (19.4) | −14.2 (6.4) | 2.7 (36.9) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −21.4 (−6.5) | −19.1 (−2.4) | −13.7 (7.3) | −3.1 (26.4) | 5.9 (42.6) | 12.9 (55.2) | 16.6 (61.9) | 14.9 (58.8) | 9.2 (48.6) | 0.8 (33.4) | −10.7 (12.7) | −18.4 (−1.1) | −2.2 (28.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −25.8 (−14.4) | −24.3 (−11.7) | −19.6 (−3.3) | −8.6 (16.5) | 0.3 (32.5) | 7.4 (45.3) | 11.5 (52.7) | 9.8 (49.6) | 4.5 (40.1) | −2.7 (27.1) | −14.4 (6.1) | −22.6 (−8.7) | −7.0 (19.4) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −52.2 (−62.0) | −50.6 (−59.1) | −47.2 (−53.0) | −40.0 (−40.0) | −24.4 (−11.9) | −6.1 (21.0) | −1.7 (28.9) | −6.7 (19.9) | −15.6 (3.9) | −26.1 (−15.0) | −40.8 (−41.4) | −51.2 (−60.2) | −52.2 (−62.0) |
| Record low wind chill | −58.7 | −60.4 | −54.9 | −47.7 | −26.6 | −7.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | −17.1 | −34.3 | −54.4 | −55.8 | −60.4 |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 16.6 (0.65) | 13.9 (0.55) | 15.3 (0.60) | 11.1 (0.44) | 20.8 (0.82) | 25.4 (1.00) | 41.9 (1.65) | 59.7 (2.35) | 42.3 (1.67) | 33.0 (1.30) | 24.0 (0.94) | 16.4 (0.65) | 320.3 (12.61) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 0.3 (0.01) | 0.2 (0.01) | 0.3 (0.01) | 3.9 (0.15) | 16.2 (0.64) | 25.1 (0.99) | 43.8 (1.72) | 60.2 (2.37) | 42.9 (1.69) | 15.9 (0.63) | 0.8 (0.03) | 0.3 (0.01) | 209.9 (8.26) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 22.2 (8.7) | 16.6 (6.5) | 16.8 (6.6) | 8.9 (3.5) | 4.3 (1.7) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 1.1 (0.4) | 19.1 (7.5) | 34.4 (13.5) | 22.1 (8.7) | 145.5 (57.3) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 11.7 | 10.8 | 9.7 | 5.3 | 6.9 | 8.4 | 9.8 | 11.2 | 11.7 | 12.4 | 13.2 | 11.8 | 123.0 |
| Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 2.0 | 5.5 | 8.3 | 9.7 | 11.1 | 11.9 | 6.6 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 57.2 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) | 12.2 | 9.6 | 8.5 | 3.3 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 6.9 | 13.8 | 12.5 | 69.1 |
| Average relative humidity (%) (at 1500 LST) | 70.5 | 67.3 | 60.8 | 59.2 | 53.6 | 54.1 | 56.9 | 59.3 | 61.2 | 70.6 | 79.2 | 74.8 | 64.0 |
| Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada (January minimum) (February minimum) (March minimum) (April minimum) (May minimum) (June minimum) (July minimum / maximum) (August minimum) (September minimum / maximum) (October minimum / maximum) (December minimum / maximum) ||||||||||||||