Editing Yellowknife (section)

== History ==
{{Further|Timeline of Yellowknife history}}
The area around the community is the historic and traditional home of the [[Yellowknives]] Dene, the land's [[First Nations in Canada|First Nations]] residents. [[Dettah]] was the first formal settlement in the area, which was founded by the Yellowknives in the 1930s and located on a point of land on the east side of Yellowknife Bay.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.atns.net.au/agreement.asp?EntityID=2323|title=Agreements, Treaties, and Negotiated Settlements Project|publisher=Indigenous Studies Program, The University of Melbourne|access-date=22 February 2008|df=dmy-all|archive-date=12 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180512100246/http://atns.net.au/agreement.asp?EntityID=2323 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The name Dettah means Burnt Point and refers to a traditional fishing camp that the Dene used for hundreds of years. The current municipal area of Yellowknife was first occupied by prospectors who ventured into the region in the mid-1930s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yellowknife.ca/Assets/Planning+and+Lands/Old+Town+Heritage+Walking+Tour+of+Yellowknife.pdf|title=Old Town|publisher=City of Yellowknife|access-date=22 February 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706213415/http://www.yellowknife.ca/Assets/Planning%2Band%2BLands/Old%2BTown%2BHeritage%2BWalking%2BTour%2Bof%2BYellowknife.pdf |archive-date=6 July 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

A [[Klondike, Yukon|Klondike]]-bound prospector, E.A. Blakeney, made the first discovery of gold in the Yellowknife Bay area in 1898. The discovery was viewed as unimportant in those days because of the [[Klondike Gold Rush]] and because Great Slave Lake was too far away to attract attention.<ref name="price">Price, Ray. ''Yellowknife'', Peter Martin Associates, [[Toronto]], 1967. Page 22.</ref>

In the late 1920s, aircraft were first used to explore Canada's [[Arctic]] regions. Samples of [[uranium]] and [[silver]] were uncovered at [[Great Bear Lake]] in the early 1930s, and prospectors began fanning out to find additional metals.<ref name="watt">Watt, Frederick B. ''Great Bear: A Journey Remembered'', Outcrop, Yellowknife, 1980. {{ISBN|0-919315-00-3}}.</ref> In 1933 two prospectors, Herb Dixon and Johnny Baker, canoed down the Yellowknife River from Great Bear Lake to survey for possible mineral deposits. They found gold samples at Quyta Lake, about {{cvt|30|km}} up the Yellowknife River, and some additional samples at Homer Lake.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwnhc.learnnet.nt.ca/timeline/1925/1934_YellowknifeJohnny.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060831153743/http://pwnhc.learnnet.nt.ca/timeline/1925/1934_YellowknifeJohnny.htm|url-status=dead |archive-date=31 August 2006|title=Northwest Territories Timeline – "Yellowknife Johnny" Baker|publisher=Prince of Whales Northern Heritage Centre|access-date=23 January 2008|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

[[File:Yellowknife, 1932 - N-1986-015-0013.jpg|thumb|left|Yellowknife from Back Bay. In the 1930s, the area was home to a number of [[prospectors]].]]
The following year, Johnny Baker returned as part of a larger crew to develop the previous gold finds and search for more. Gold was found on the east side of Yellowknife Bay in 1934 and the short-lived [[Burwash Mine]] was developed. When government geologists uncovered gold in more favourable geology on the west side of Yellowknife Bay in the fall of 1935, a small staking rush occurred.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwnhc.learnnet.nt.ca/timeline/1925/1935_Jolliffe.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061018033321/http://pwnhc.learnnet.nt.ca/timeline/1925/1935_Jolliffe.htm|url-status=dead |archive-date=18 October 2006|title=Northwest Territories Timeline – Dr. Alfred Joliffe, Geological Survey of Canada|publisher=Prince of Whales Northern Heritage Centre|access-date=23 January 2008|df=dmy-all}}</ref> From 1935 to 1937, one prospector and trapper named Winslow C. Ranney staked in the area between David Lake and Rater Lake with few commercial results. The nearby hill known as [[Ranney Hill]] is his namesake and a popular hiking destination today. [[Con Mine]] was the most impressive gold deposit and its development created the excitement that led to the first settlement of Yellowknife in 1936–1937. Some of the first businesses were Corona Inn, [[Weaver & Devore Trading]], Yellowknife Supplies and post office, and [[The Wildcat Cafe]]. Con Mine entered production on 5 September 1938. Yellowknife boomed in the summer of 1938 and many new businesses were established, including the [[Canadian Bank of Commerce]], [[Hudson's Bay Company]], Vic Ingraham's first hotel, Sutherland's Drug Store, and a pool hall.

The population of Yellowknife quickly grew to 1,000 by 1940, and by 1942, five gold mines were in production in the Yellowknife region. However, by 1944, gold production had ground to a halt as men were needed for [[Military history of Canada during World War II|the war effort]]. An exploration program at the [[Giant Mine]] property on the north end of town had suggested a sizable gold deposit in 1944. This new find resulted in a massive post-war staking rush to Yellowknife.<ref name="decoursey">Decoursey, Duke. ''The Yellowknife Years'', Parkview Publishing, Squamish, BC. p.&nbsp;112.</ref> It also resulted in new discoveries at the Con Mine, greatly extending the life of the mine. The Yellowknife townsite expanded from the Old Town waterfront, and the new townsite was established during 1945–1946. The [[Discovery Mine]], with its own townsite, operated {{cvt|81|km}} to the north-northeast of Yellowknife from 1950 to 1969.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwnhc.learnnet.nt.ca/timeline/1925/1944_NormByrne.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061018143923/http://pwnhc.learnnet.nt.ca/timeline/1925/1944_NormByrne.htm|url-status=dead |archive-date=18 October 2006|title=Northwest Territories Timeline – Discovery Mine|publisher=Prince of Whales Northern Heritage Centre|access-date=23 January 2008|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

[[File:Yellowknife in 40s-50s.jpg|thumb|left|Mid 20th-century Yellowknife; the community was incorporated as a municipality in 1953.]]
Between 1939 and 1953, [[Yellowknife (administrative district)|Yellowknife Administration district]] was controlled by the [[Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada|Northern Affairs department]] (now Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada) of the [[Government of Canada]]. A small council, partially elected and partially appointed, made decisions. By 1953, Yellowknife had grown so much that it was made a municipality, with its own council and town hall. The first mayor of Yellowknife was [[Jock McNiven]]. In September 1967, Yellowknife officially became the [[History of Northwest Territories capital cities|capital of the Northwest Territories]]. This important new status sparked what has been called the third boom in Yellowknife. New sub-divisions were established to house an influx of government workers.<ref name=incorporation>{{cite web|url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/yellowknife-nwt |archive-url=https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20080908132411mp_/http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm%3DTCE%2526%3Bamp%3BParams%3DA1ARTA0006189|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 September 2008|title=Yellowknife (NWT)-Government|publisher=Historica Foundation of Canada|access-date=23 January 2008|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

In 1978 the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] nuclear-powered satellite [[Kosmos 954]] crashed to Earth near Yellowknife. There were no known casualties, although a small quantity of radioactive [[nuclear fuel]] was released into the environment, and [[Kosmos 954#Recovery|Operation Morning Light]]—an attempt to retrieve it—was only partially successful.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwnhc.learnnet.nt.ca/timeline/1975/1978_Cosmos.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061016215832/http://pwnhc.learnnet.nt.ca/timeline/1975/1978_Cosmos.htm|url-status=dead |archive-date=16 October 2006|title=Northwest Territories Timeline – Cosmos 954 and Operation Morning Light|publisher=Prince of Whales Northern Heritage Centre|access-date=23 January 2008|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

A new mining rush and fourth building boom in Yellowknife began with the discovery of diamonds {{cvt|300|km}} north of the city in 1991.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwnhc.learnnet.nt.ca/timeline/1975/Diamonds_1991.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061017184906/http://pwnhc.learnnet.nt.ca/timeline/1975/Diamonds_1991.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 October 2006 |title=Northwest Territories Timeline – Discovery of Diamonds in the NWT|publisher=Prince of Whales Northern Heritage Centre|access-date=23 January 2008|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The [[Giant Mine#Bombing|Giant Mine]] was the subject of a bombing during a [[Royal Oak Mines#Labour dispute|labour dispute]] in 1992 that resulted in one of the deadliest mass murders in Canada with 9 deaths.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/giant-mine-murders|title=Giant Mine Murders|website=[[The Canadian Encyclopedia]]|publisher=[[Historica Canada]]|last=Foot|first=Richard|date=July 5, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/newsinteractives/features/giant-mine-explosion|title=A city divided|publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]]|website=[[CBC News]]|date=September 14, 2022|first=Rachel |last=Zelniker}}</ref> The last of the gold mines in Yellowknife closed in 2004. Today, Yellowknife is primarily a government town and a service centre for the diamond mines. On 1 April 1999, its purview as capital of the NWT was reduced when the territory of [[Nunavut]] was split from the NWT. As a result, jurisdiction for that region of Canada was transferred to the new capital city of [[Iqaluit]]. Consequently, Yellowknife lost its standing as the Canadian capital city with the smallest population.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwnhc.learnnet.nt.ca/timeline/1975/Nunavut_1991.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061019003507/http://pwnhc.learnnet.nt.ca/timeline/1975/Nunavut_1991.html|url-status=dead |archive-date=19 October 2006|title=Northwest Territories Timeline – The Division of the NWT and Nunavut|publisher=Prince of Whales Northern Heritage Centre|access-date=23 January 2008|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

===2023 wildfire===
{{Main|2023 Canadian wildfires#Northwest Territories}}

On 16 August 2023, the territorial government began evacuating Yellowknife as [[wildfire]]s approached the city,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.nt.ca/sites/flagship/files/resources/evacuation_order_yellowknife_and_area_august_16_2023.pdf|title=Evacuation Order for Yellowknife, N'dilo, Dettah, and Ingraham Trail|publisher=[[Politics of the Northwest Territories|Government of Northwest Territories]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230822105952/https://www.gov.nt.ca/sites/flagship/files/resources/evacuation_order_yellowknife_and_area_august_16_2023.pdf|archive-date=2023-08-22}}</ref> fearing that the [[Yellowknife Highway]] (Highway 3)—the main road leading into Yellowknife—would soon be inaccessible.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/nwt-wildfire-emergency-update-august-16-1.6938756|title=Yellowknife begins evacuation as wildfires approach|last=Minogue|first=Sara|publisher=[[CBC News]]|date=16 August 2023|access-date=17 August 2023}}</ref> The government also worked with homeless residents to assist them in evacuating.<ref>{{Cite web |title=City of Yellowknife ordered to evacuate due to nearby N.W.T. wildfires {{!}} Globalnews.ca |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/9901527/yellowknife-evacuation-order-wildfires/ |access-date=2023-08-17 |website=Global News |language=en-US}}</ref>

[[Air Canada]] and [[WestJet]] were initially criticized for high prices and unwaived cancellation fees for flights to and from Yellowknife, but they have since changed policies to alleviate financial burden for evacuees. Both carriers also increased the number of flights to Yellowknife.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Harris |first=Sophia |date=August 17, 2023 |title=WestJet, Air Canada face criticism over Yellowknife flights as wildfires rage |work=CBC.ca |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/westjet-air-canada-wildfire-yellowknife-1.6939525 |access-date=August 17, 2023}}</ref>

The smoke from the [[2023 Canadian wildfires#Northwest Territories|236 active wildfires in the Northwest Territories]] spread quickly across Canada due to powerful winds and was compared by news sources to the [[2023 Hawaii wildfires]], which similarly started in a dry and windy environment. {{As of|2023|8|17}}, the fire was {{cvt|162,936|ha}} in size, at {{cvt|16|km}} distance from the city.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wildfire Update |url=https://www.gov.nt.ca/ecc/en/services/wildfire-update |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230817170435/https://www.gov.nt.ca/ecc/en/services/wildfire-update |archive-date=2023-08-17 |access-date=2023-08-17 |website=www.gov.nt.ca |publisher=[[Environment and Climate Change Canada]] |language=en}}</ref>

On 19 August 2023, 87 percent of the city was evacuated as of 6:58 am (ET), with only 2,600 of the original 20,000 remaining, 1,000 of whom were essential workers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Graveland |first=Bill |title='Most of the people are now gone': Yellowknife nearly emptied as fire fight continues |url=https://www.cp24.com/news/most-of-the-people-are-now-gone-yellowknife-nearly-emptied-as-fire-fight-continues-1.6526012 |access-date=2023-08-19 |website=cp24 |language=en}}</ref> NWT Premier [[Caroline Cochrane]] announced that she had evacuated to Alberta to avoid taking up a space on one of the last planes to leave.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Carroll |first=Luke |date=August 19, 2023 |title=Patient dies during evacuation of Yellowknife hospital |work=[[CBC.ca]] |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/nwt-wildfire-update-1.6941729 |access-date=August 20, 2023}}</ref>

The evacuation order was rescinded 6 September and Yellowknife residents began to return later that day.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-thousands-begin-journey-home-as-yellowknife-evacuation-order-scheduled/ |title=Evacuation order lifted for Yellowknife after three weeks of wildfire danger|date=6 September 2023|access-date=9 September 2023|publisher=[[The Globe and Mail]]}}</ref> An estimated 1,000 people had been flown home by September 8.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/thousands-of-residents-return-to-yellowknife-but-many-still-out-in-other-communities/article_aacb7bb7-7793-52b0-bb15-9d8786a2c0a5.html |title=Thousands of residents return to Yellowknife, but many still out in other communities|date=7 September 2023|access-date=9 September 2023|publisher=[[Toronto Star]]}}</ref>