Lutsel K'e

Before European contact the Chipewyan people living in the area relied almost solely on caribou. They travelled and hunted in family groups. Different groups would meet at known hunting locations. After coming into contact with Europeans the Chipewyan people of the area did adopt the building of log houses at some of these locations. But, it wasn’t until 1925 when the Hudson Bay Company Post was set up near what is now the community of Lutsel K’e that people began to settle into permanent communities. In 1954 homes were moved to the current site of Lutsel K’e and in 1960 a school was built.

Today, Lutsel K’e is one of the Dene communities located in an area under negotiation. A treaty was signed with the Crown on July 25, 1900 at Deninu Kue. But, the Dene and Crown are re-determining the terms of that treaty and are working to resolve outstanding land, resource and governance issues through negotiations. The three Dene parties negotiating are the Yellowknives Dene, Deninu Kue and the Lutsel K'e Dene First Nations. Lutsel K’e remains the northernmost Chipewyan community. Languages spoken are both Chipewyan and English.