Arctic, Mackenzie Delta

The pastoral region of the Arctic and Mackenzie Delta within the Diocese of Mackenzie–Fort Smith is one of the most distinctive and demanding areas of Catholic ministry in Canada. Stretching across the far north of the Northwest Territories, this region includes communities along the Beaufort Sea coast and the Mackenzie River Delta—such as Inuvik, Tuktoyaktuk, Aklavik, Fort McPherson, Tsiigehtchic, and nearby settlements. It is a land shaped by tundra, permafrost, vast skies, and long seasons of darkness and light, where travel is often possible only by air, winter road, or river boat, depending on the time of year.

Pastorally, the region is home primarily to Inuvialuit and Gwich’in peoples, whose cultures, languages, and spiritual traditions are deeply rooted in the land and waters of the Arctic. Hunting, fishing, trapping, and seasonal rhythms continue to shape community life, and pastoral ministry must respect and move in harmony with these patterns. The Catholic Church’s presence here is long-standing, marked by both moments of genuine faith witness and painful legacies associated with colonialism and residential schools. As a result, contemporary pastoral care places strong emphasis on humility, listening, healing, and reconciliation.

Parishes in the Arctic and Delta region are small, close-knit, and often served by a single priest covering multiple communities, sometimes with the support of deacons, religious sisters, and dedicated local lay leaders. Liturgical life is shaped by simplicity and adaptability: Masses may be infrequent, celebrated when a priest can arrive, while the Sunday Celebration of the Word, funerals, and prayer services are often led by trained lay ministers. Faith is expressed not only in formal worship but in shared meals, storytelling, time on the land, and pastoral presence during times of grief, crisis, and transition.

The pastoral challenges of the region are significant. Isolation, high cost of living, housing shortages, intergenerational trauma, addiction, and the accelerating impacts of climate change—such as coastal erosion and thawing permafrost—affect daily life and pastoral priorities. At the same time, the region is marked by resilience, generosity, humour, and a strong sense of community responsibility. Elders play a vital role in passing on wisdom, language, and faith, and the Church increasingly recognizes their leadership as essential to authentic ministry.

In this Arctic and Delta pastoral region, the Diocese of Mackenzie–Fort Smith seeks to walk alongside the people rather than ahead of them, accompanying communities in faith, healing, and hope. Ministry here is less about programs and more about presence—sharing life in a place where land, culture, and spirituality are inseparably connected, and where the Gospel is lived quietly but deeply in the rhythms of the North.