Lutsel K’e Co-operative

Community owned Co-operatives in the Arctic are multi-purpose businesses that provide a wide range of services to their members and their communities. Services provided by local Co-ops include retail stores, hotel and tourism operations, cable television, arts and craft marketing, fuel distribution, construction & heavy equipment services, property rental and a variety of agency type services. Chipewyan Dene First Nations people formed this Co-op in December 1973, Lutsel K’e Co-operative is the only retail store in the community. Other Co-op operations include postal and fuel services. The name Lutsel K’e means “place of small fish”. The community has a population of 318, and the languages spoken are Chipewyan and English. Lutsel K’e, is the most northerly Chipewyan community, with no road access. Scheduled air service is available from Yellowknife and there is barge service from Hay River during the month of July. The local economy is traditionally based and supplemented by arts, crafts and tourism.