On January 24, 2026, residents in Behchokǫ̀, Northwest Territories, gathered for the first “New Beginnings” Narcotics Anonymous meeting at the Kǫ̀ Gocho Centre (Sportsplex) in Behchokǫ̀. The new group offers local peer support for people recovering from addiction, allowing them to find help in their own community instead of travelling to Yellowknife.
The meetings were organized with support from the Tłı̨chǫ Government’s Department of Healing and Community Wellness and the Tłı̨chǫ Community Services Agency (TCSA) as part of a broader push to improve local wellness and aftercare. Organizers chose the Kǫ̀ Gocho Centre — the community sportsplex — to host meetings in a central, familiar venue and to help destigmatize recovery in everyday community life.
Leaders in the region said the initiative responded to a difficult 2025 that saw a rise in opioid-related and toxic-drug incidents across the North. Organizers say the peer-led group will follow the fellowship guidelines of Narcotics Anonymous World Services, providing a safe, anonymous space for people to share experiences and support each other.
The meetings are expected to continue weekly on Saturdays to help fill a gap in local aftercare services for people returning from treatment centres. The initiative forms part of the Tłı̨chǫ Healing Path approach, which emphasizes community-led healing and supports long-term sobriety.
Journalists seeking official statements should contact the Tłı̨chǫ Government’s Health & Wellness communications officer rather than attempting to identify or interview meeting attendees, consistent with NA’s tradition of anonymity.
