Wrigley, Northwest Territories

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.

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
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 km^2 (21.56 sq mi)
Elevation	149 m (489 ft)
Population  (2016)[1]
• Total	119
• Density	2.1/km^2 (5/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC−07:00 (MST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−06:00 (MDT)
Canadian Postal code	X0E 1E0
Telephone exchange	581
- Living cost	152.5^A
- Food price index	173.6^B
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]

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 also 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 2011 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]

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% 1996 173 —     1997 183 +5.8% 1998 185 +1.1% 1999 189 +2.2% 2000 193 +2.1% 2001 189 −2.1% 2002 176 −6.9% 2003 168 −4.5% 2004 140 −16.7% 2005 133 −5.0% 2006 129 −3.0%	Year Pop. ±% 2007 121 −6.2% 2008 128 +5.8% 2009 137 +7.0% 2010 138 +0.7% 2011 138 +0.0% 2012 145 +5.1% 2013 146 +0.7% 2014 149 +2.1% 2015 151 +1.3% 2016 147 −2.6% 2017 135 −8.2%
Sources: NWT Bureau of Statistics (2001 - 2017)[10]

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 Royal Canadian Mounted Police 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 a continental subarctic climate (Dfc). The area combines mild to 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.

Climate data for Wrigley Airport
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high humidex	11.2	10.0	12.0	24.0	30.4	38.1	37.9	36.6	29.8	21.3	7.2	0.0	38.1
Record high °C (°F)	6.5 (43.7)	11.1 (52.0)	12.7 (54.9)	25.0 (77.0)	34.0 (93.2)	37.0 (98.6)	35.5 (95.9)	33.5 (92.3)	28.3 (82.9)	21.7 (71.1)	8.9 (48.0)	7.8 (46.0)	37.0 (98.6)
Average high °C (°F)	−21.1 (−6.0)	−17.1 (1.2)	−7.9 (17.8)	5.0 (41.0)	14.6 (58.3)	21.7 (71.1)	23.4 (74.1)	19.9 (67.8)	12.5 (54.5)	−0.3 (31.5)	−14.8 (5.4)	−18.6 (−1.5)	1.5 (34.7)
Daily mean °C (°F)	−25.4 (−13.7)	−22.1 (−7.8)	−15.0 (5.0)	−1.7 (28.9)	8.0 (46.4)	15.0 (59.0)	16.9 (62.4)	13.6 (56.5)	7.1 (44.8)	−3.8 (25.2)	−18.7 (−1.7)	−22.7 (−8.9)	−4.1 (24.6)
Average low °C (°F)	−29.7 (−21.5)	−27.2 (−17.0)	−22.1 (−7.8)	−8.3 (17.1)	1.3 (34.3)	8.2 (46.8)	10.3 (50.5)	7.2 (45.0)	1.6 (34.9)	−7.4 (18.7)	−22.5 (−8.5)	−26.7 (−16.1)	−9.6 (14.7)
Record low °C (°F)	−51.7 (−61.1)	−53.3 (−63.9)	−46.7 (−52.1)	−36.1 (−33.0)	−20.9 (−5.6)	−3.9 (25.0)	−1.1 (30.0)	−6.0 (21.2)	−18.0 (−0.4)	−31.5 (−24.7)	−48.0 (−54.4)	−49.4 (−56.9)	−53.3 (−63.9)
Record low wind chill	−60.9	−58.9	−50.3	−37.0	−25.5	0.0	0.0	−2.7	−15.6	−37.6	−52.1	−63.0	−63.0
Average precipitation mm (inches)	16.7 (0.66)	14.6 (0.57)	10.4 (0.41)	8.1 (0.32)	22.0 (0.87)	43.5 (1.71)	64.0 (2.52)	49.5 (1.95)	35.9 (1.41)	29.4 (1.16)	20.5 (0.81)	18.1 (0.71)	332.6 (13.09)
Average rainfall mm (inches)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.3 (0.01)	18.4 (0.72)	43.5 (1.71)	64.0 (2.52)	49.5 (1.95)	32.3 (1.27)	7.6 (0.30)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	215.5 (8.48)
Average snowfall cm (inches)	19.1 (7.5)	15.4 (6.1)	10.9 (4.3)	8.9 (3.5)	3.8 (1.5)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	3.4 (1.3)	21.8 (8.6)	22.6 (8.9)	18.9 (7.4)	124.7 (49.1)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm)	8.0	6.4	5.6	3.3	6.4	8.4	9.7	9.0	9.2	9.7	9.0	7.5	92.1
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm)	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.4	5.6	8.2	9.7	9.0	8.3	2.2	0.1	0.0	43.3
Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm)	8.0	6.4	5.6	2.9	1.1	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.1	7.9	9.1	7.5	49.4
Source: Environment Canada Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010[15]

References

1. Census Profile, 2016 Census Wrigley, Settlement (Census subdivision), Northwest Territories and Northwest Territories (Territory)
2. "NWT Communities - Wrigley". Government of the Northwest Territories: Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. Retrieved 2014-01-29.
3. "Northwest Territories Official Community Names and Pronunciation Guide". Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre. Yellowknife: Education, Culture and Employment, Government of the Northwest Territories. Archived from the original on 2016-01-13. Retrieved 2016-01-13.]
4. Canada Flight Supplement. Effective 0901Z 16 July 2020 to 0901Z 10 September 2020.
5. Wrigley - Statistical Profile at the GNWT
6. Differences in Community Government Structure
7. Wrigley at Spectacular NWT
8. Wrigley at the GNWT
9. Memorable Manitobans: Joseph Wrigley (1839-?)
10. Population Estimates By Community from the GNWT
11. Pehdzeh Ki First Nation at the Dehcho First Nations
12. No. 11 (June 27, 1921) and Adhesion (July 17, 1922) with Reports, etc.
13. Wrigley Infrastructure Profile
14. Chief Julian Yendo School
15. "Wrigley A" (CSV (3069 KB)). Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010. Environment Canada. Climate ID: 2204000. Retrieved 2014-01-09.