The Tłı̨chǫ Government has called a special council meeting for May 21, 2026, to provide community members with updates on local energy and airport infrastructure projects. The session will take place at 6:00 PM at the Kǫ Gǫ Chǫ Centre in Behchokǫ̀.
The meeting agenda includes discussions regarding Northland Power and the Independent Power Supply Project, as well as plans for community airport development. These topics come as the territory looks for ways to improve the reliability of its electrical supply. Currently, Behchokǫ̀ residents receive power from the Snare Hydro system, with a 2.0 MW diesel generator installed in 2012 serving as backup, according to the Northwest Territories Power Corporation.
Energy reliability is a significant focus in the region, as the territory is not connected to the North American electrical grid. Instead, the area relies on 27 separate power grids, each with its own generation, transmission, and distribution facilities, as noted by Powering the North. Connecting a new hydro facility to the existing Snare system could help reduce dependence on diesel across five communities, particularly during periods of drought.
The Tłı̨chǫ Government is also currently working with the territorial government to assess the Nàı̨lı̨ı̨ Power Project, a potential hydroelectric station located at or near Whatì Falls. This follows the government’s previous experience leading the Snare Cascades, which marked the first 100 per cent Indigenous-owned hydro project in Canada. The meeting will also touch upon ongoing discussions involving Naka Power Utilities (NWT), a long-standing electricity service provider in the region.
