The Sahtu Region encompasses five communities in NWT. The region borders the Yukon Territory on its western side, Inuvik to the north, the North Slave Region on the east and Tlicho to the south.

The Sahtu region accounts for 6% of the NWT’s population and 5% of its income

Norman Wells is the commercial and administrative centre and has the highest average level of income in the NWT.  It serves as a regional air hub and the region’s primary service and supply centre.

Three Sahtu communities are supplied during the summer by barges traveling along the Mackenzie River. The remaining two communities are supplied only in the winter by trucks traveling the winter roads.

The Sahtu has the NWT’s only producing oil field, and ships over $500 million in oil annually via the Norman Wells - Zama Lake pipeline. Norman Wells and other Sahtu communities are well situated to benefit from oil and gas development.

The region has some major tourism assets including the Canol Heritage Trail, Great Bear Lake, Mackenzie River and Mackenzie Mountains.

Tungsten, emeralds and other minerals have been discovered in the region and significant potential exists for the development of hydro.  Other regional industries include transportation, trapping and arts and crafts.