Fond du Lac Denesuline First Nation

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Fond du Lac Denesuline First Nation, also known as Fond du Lac Gánį Kóé, is a Dene First Nation in northern Saskatchewan, Canada. The main community sits on the east side of Lake Athabasca in the boreal forest. It is a remote fly‑in community with several reserves (Fond du Lac 227–233). The people have a long history of hunting, fishing, and trapping, and many residents still live that way.

Population and language
In 2019, about 1,133 people lived on reserve and about 995 lived off reserve, for a total of 2,128. In 2011, the population was 874, with many Dene and Métis, and about 705 people spoke Dene as their mother tongue. Fond du Lac is part of the Prince Albert Grand Council.

History and people
The Fond du Lac Dene Nation traces its roots to the Maurice’s Band, which joined Treaty 8 in 1899. In 1949 the Maurice’s Band split into Fond du Lac and Black Lake bands.

Economy and daily life
Traditionally people relied on fishing, hunting, trapping, and guiding services for fishing camps. Today, mining and other resource extraction are important too. There are few roads; the community is mainly reached by air, water, snowmobile, and in winter by ice roads.

Name meaning and climate
Fond du Lac means “far end of the lake” or “bottom of the lake” in French. The area has a subarctic climate with long, cold winters and short, mild summers.