Which Indigenous peoples make up a large part of the Northwest Territories population?

Indigenous peoples represent a significant portion of the population in the Northwest Territories. First Nations peoples, specifically the Dene, along with the Métis, account for more than one-third of the total territorial population. The Dene are primarily concentrated in the Mackenzie valley area and belong to the Athabaskan language family.1

Additionally, the Inuit—the aboriginal Arctic people of Canada—make up approximately one-tenth of the population and reside mainly along the northern coastal regions. While the Dene and Inuit are distinct in their language and culture, both groups are integral to the demographic and cultural landscape of the territory.1