October 8, 2026 Ottawa, Ontario Parks Canada
Heritage rivers reflect the deep cultural connections between waterways, landscapes, wildlife and the people who have lived, travelled and thrived along them for generations.
At a gathering of the Northwest Territories Council of Leaders in Ottawa on Monday, the Honourable Julie Dabrusin, Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, the Honourable Jay Macdonald, Northwest Territories Minister of Environment and Climate Change, and the Honourable Caitlin Cleveland, Northwest Territories Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, announced the nomination of the Dehcho / Deho / Kuukpak / Nagwichoonjik / Grand Rivière / Fleuve Mackenzie / Mackenzie River to the Canadian Heritage Rivers System.
The nominated section includes the entirety of the River’s main stem, which is one of the longest in Canada. This River’s main stem, located fully within the Northwest Territories, flows just under 1,800 km from its origin at the western tip of Great Slave Lake, through the Sahtú and Gwich’in settlement areas, to its terminus at the Arctic Ocean in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region. Including its tributaries, the River expands over 4,200 km in length. Its significance is reflected in its names in the Indigenous languages and dialects that are spoken along its length. The English interpretation of each of these names–Dehcho/Deho/ Grand Rivière/Kuukpak/Nagwichoonjik/Fleuve Mackenzie –is simply “Big River.” It is a living Indigenous cultural landscape. The stories, knowledge, and traditions of the Dene, Métis, Gwich’in, and Inuvialuit peoples are reflected in the river’s oral histories, sacred places, harvesting practices, and longstanding connections to the land and water.
The nomination of the Dehcho / Deho / Kuukpak / Nagwichoonjik / Grand Rivière / Fleuve Mackenzie / Mackenzie River is a milestone, recognizing the River’s cultural importance as well as the part it has played in the shaping of Canada. This River was, and remains, a major trade and transportation route. The nomination also acknowledges the River’s exceptional recreational opportunities and ecological richness.
Draining nearly one-fifth of Canada’s landmass, the River supports diverse ecosystems, internationally significant wildlife habitat, and remarkable geological features, including the Mackenzie Delta. The River is home to a significant number of species of flora and fauna who call the river and its shores home. It provides critical habitat to many species of mammals, fish, birds, plants and other organisms, and is especially significant for migratory birds.
This nomination is the result of collaboration between Indigenous governments and Indigenous organizations along the River, the Government of the Northwest Territories and Parks Canada. If designated, it would join an established network of Canadian Heritage Rivers that celebrates the country’s diverse history and connections to freshwater heritage.
The next step of the designation process is a stewardship plan, prepared within three years of the nomination, that builds a shared vision and strategic direction for stewardship and care of the River. As the party that advanced the nomination, the Government of Northwest Territories is responsible for leading the development of the stewardship plan. The plan will be created in collaboration with the Dene, Métis and Inuvialuit Peoples and communities throughout the Dehcho and Sahtú, Gwich’in and Inuvialuit regions. Should the plan be approved, the River will have official designation and join the Canadian Heritage Rivers System.
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