- Yellowknife
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/yel"oh nuyf'/, n.a city in and the capital of the Northwest Territories, in N central Canada, on Great Slave Lake. 10,394.
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Lying on the northwestern shore of the Great Slave Lake near the mouth of the Yellowknife River, the city was founded in 1935, one year after gold was discovered in the area. It took its name from the Yellowknife band of Athabascan Indians. Gold mining remains the chief economic activity. There are also reserves of diamonds in the region. The capital since 1967, it is the largest community and the chief administrative, commercial, and educational centre in the territories.* * *
city and capital (since 1967) of Northwest Territories, Canada. It lies on the north shore of Great Slave Lake, 5 miles (8 km) south of the mouth of the Yellowknife River.It was founded in 1935, one year after gold (gold rush) was discovered in the area, and derived its name from the Yellowknife band of Athabascan Indians. During the early years of World War II, the demand for gold declined and the city's economy suffered. Since a second major gold discovery in 1945, large mines such as the Giant Yellowknife have been in operation. There are also reserves of diamonds in the surrounding region. Power is provided in part by a hydroelectric station on the nearby Snare River. The city is the largest community and the chief administrative, commercial, and educational centre in the territories. Yellowknife is linked by highway around the lake southward to Hay River and to cities in Alberta. Inc. city, 1970. Pop. (2006) 18,700.▪ peoplealso called Tatsanottinea small Athabaskan-speaking North American Indian tribe who traditionally lived northeast of the Great Bear and Great Slave lakes in what is now the Northwest Territories, Can. The name Yellowknife derives from the group's use of yellow copper in making knives and other tools. In language and culture patterns the Yellowknife were almost identical to the Chipewyan, who were given to robbing and oppressing them. The virtual destruction of the tribe came in the late 18th and early 19th centuries at the hands of the Dogrib, however, who were retaliating for earlier raids and harassments.Early 21st-century population estimates indicated some 1,200 Yellowknife descendants.* * *
Universalium. 2010.
