Fort Smith Metis Council

Published purpose

The Thebacha Recreational Area, officially named Little “Ma” MacDonald Park who was a cherished elder spending all her life in the area, has been maintained by the Fort Smith Metis Council (FSMC) since the late 1970’s. The site is 2km south of where the Salt River and the Slave Rivers come together. The area has significant historical meaning to the Metis of the NWT as it is the location that our Patriarch Francois Beaulieu (b. 1771) established himself and began trading in salt he gathered from the natural salt plains located 20 kms further south of the area (now located in Wood Buffalo National Park). The recreation area is accessible year around via a 10km all weather gravel road connecting to NWT Highway #5. In winter, an ice bridge spans the Salt River near the area and allows for users to access an all-weather road network on the west bank of the Salt River locally know as the Fox Holes. This ice bridge allows for multi seasonal use of the area. The park hosts very modest facilities (day use and campsites) that are available to visitors at no cost. There are also six (6) small single room cabins along with a Gathering Hall available for rent at $10 per unit per day. The hall itself is energized through the regional Taltson Hydro grid. The FSMC seeks funding to construct approximately 2kms of local walking/biking path system around the current recreation area. The path would be 7 feet wide with pedestrian street lighting. There will also be benches and garbage cans placed throughout the network.