Want to live and work in Behchoko?

Behchoko is a predominantly Tłı̨chǫ community, Dene people of northern Canada. About 90% of the population identifies as Tłı̨chǫ. Families have been established for generations, and the community is tight-knit. There is a small presence of southern Canadians who come to work in education, health, and government, typically on contracts.

The Tłı̨chǫ language is spoken by a large portion of the community, and bilingual education in Tłı̨chǫ and English is offered at the school. Older generations speak Tłı̨chǫ as their first language, and there is an active effort to revitalize and teach it to children and youth. English is used for administration and dealings with the territorial and federal governments.

The population is young, with a median age below the Canadian standard, a characteristic of Indigenous communities in the north. Families with multiple children are common. Elders hold a central role in cultural life and community decision-making. Social cohesion is strong, and ceremonies, hand games, and drum dance remain part of the community calendar.

Most homes in Behchoko are single-storey wood-frame structures built through the housing program. In Rae, houses are concentrated along the shores of Marian Lake and on residential streets. Edzo, built in the 1960s as part of a modernization plan for Indigenous communities, has more uniform houses on planned streets.

The private rental market is practically non-existent. Most properties belong to the housing program or the government, with specific rules for Tłı̨chǫ members. Those who come from outside to work typically receive employer-provided housing (school, government, hospital). Without that connection, finding accommodation is very difficult.

Heating relies on fuel oil or propane. Newer homes have better insulation. Permafrost in the area requires specific foundations to prevent settling. Those arriving to live in the community should confirm with their employer where they will stay before accepting a contract; this is a normal part of negotiations for positions in small northern communities.

Resident children attend Chief Jimmy Bruneau School, from kindergarten through high school. The school is a reference for culturally based education, with a bilingual Tłı̨chǫ and English program and components in history, culture, and land-based learning. It is one of the most respected schools in the territory for this model.

Aurora College has no campus in Behchoko, but offers short and distance programs. Students seeking post-secondary education move to Yellowknife (Aurora College Yellowknife North Slave Campus) or to southern Canada. The Tłı̨chǫ Government has scholarship programs for members studying away from the community.

For bachelor's degrees in various fields such as education, resource management, and health, students go to the University of Alberta, the University of Calgary, or the University of Victoria. Distance courses through Athabasca University are popular for those who prefer to stay in the community while working. Traditional language and culture instruction remains strong through Elders and the immersion program.

Behchoko is a small, close-knit community. Violent crime is rare, and everyone knows one another. The most common issues involve alcohol, disputes, and social problems linked to the intergenerational trauma common in Indigenous communities across Canada. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) maintains a local detachment, and there are culturally based policing initiatives in partnership with the Tłı̨chǫ Government.

Practical risks come from nature. Highway 3, between Behchoko and Yellowknife, is one of the roads with the highest rates of bison and moose collisions in Canada. Driving at night requires maximum attention. Caribou also cross the highway during migrations. Temperatures of -40 degrees in winter require proper clothing, and vehicles need block heaters to start.

Marian Lake and Great Slave Lake, near the community, require caution especially during break-up (April/May) and freeze-up (October/November), when the ice is unreliable. Forest fires in summer are a concern, and the area has seen evacuations. Those living in an isolated house should have a planned evacuation route.

Summer is brief. From June to August, highs typically range between 20 and 23 degrees Celsius, with nights near 8 degrees. The sun is visible for more than 18 hours in June. The lake opens up for canoeing, fishing, and crossings to Yellowknife. The surrounding boreal forest has trails and edible mushrooms in season.

Winter is long and severe. From October to April, regular lows of 30 to 35 degrees below zero Celsius. In December and January, the sun barely appears for five hours a day. Northern lights are frequent. The ice road across the lake opens in January and closes in March, creating a seasonal direct route to Yellowknife.

Annual precipitation is around 285 millimeters, largely as snow. Homes rely on oil heating and reinforced insulation. A heavy parka, thermal boots, a hat with ear flaps, and thick gloves are standard equipment. The community maintains traditional Tlicho hunting and fishing practices year-round.

Behchoko sits between Marian Lake and Great Slave Lake, and outdoor life revolves around the water and the bush. Fishing for trout, walleye, and arctic grayling is practiced year-round, with ice fishing in winter and boats in summer. Trails around the community lead to berry-picking spots and hunting grounds, and in winter the ice road to Whatì extends access further north.

The Tlicho Government Cultural Centre in Behchoko houses the Tlicho Archive and exhibits on Chief Jimmy Bruneau, the Tlicho Peace, and the self-government achieved in 2005. Chief Jimmy Bruneau School in Edzo (part of the same community) hosts the Tlicho language immersion program, a reference point in the North. The Trails of Our Ancestors, an annual canoe program, departs from here toward neighboring communities.

Festivals mark the year: the Tlicho Annual Gathering, featuring drumming, traditional games, and a political assembly, and the Behchoko Hand Games Tournament, with intense rounds of Dene hand games. Yellowknife, one hour away on Highway 3, offers a regional hospital, international flights, and the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, which complements the region's cultural life.