Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre

The territorial museum of the Northwest Territories sits beside Frame Lake in Yellowknife, in a low modern building that holds the stories of the people and land of the North. The Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, at 4750 48th Street, was opened in the late 1970s as the territory's main museum and archive, and it is named for Charles, Prince of Wales. The NWT, or Northwest Territories, stretch from the boreal forests of the Mackenzie Valley to the Arctic coast and islands, and the centre's job is to tell the story of the region's many cultures, from the Dene, Métis and Inuvialuit to later newcomers.

The permanent galleries cover a broad range. Displays of Dene and Inuit clothing, tools, canoes and sleds show the ingenuity needed to live in a cold and demanding landscape, and the art and craft traditions of the North, from beadwork and quillwork to carving and printmaking, are shown with real artistry. Other sections cover natural history, with animals and plants of the tundra and forest, the history of fur trading and exploration, and the mining and aviation industries that built modern Yellowknife’s economy. Indigenous voices are present throughout, with stories told by the people themselves, and the centre works closely with Indigenous communities.

Current temporary and travelling exhibitions change through the year, so there is usually something new, including contemporary Indigenous art and projects that explore identity today. The centre also houses the territorial archives, which hold documents, photographs and recordings, and researchers can make appointments to consult them. The museum is designed with accessibility in mind, with ramps, handrails and accessible washrooms, and wheelchairs can be borrowed.

Admission is free, though donations are welcome, and free parking is provided on site. The centre keeps regular opening hours through the week, with longer hours on certain evenings, and it closes on Mondays and some holidays, so confirm before visiting. A visit takes one to two hours.

The centre is close to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, one of the most unusual parliament buildings in Canada, and to the trails around Frame Lake, which make a pleasant walk after a museum visit. Visitors who want to understand Yellowknife and the North beyond the aurora and the gold rush will find it a worthwhile stop, particularly on a cold day or a rainy afternoon, and it offers a good introduction to the people who have lived here for thousands of years.