In the early 2000s, as the Mackenzie Gas Project loomed with uncertainty, Indigenous leaders in the Nahendeh Region charted a different course. They saw opportunity not in pipelines, but in protecting the land itself. In 2004, the business arms of Acho Dene Koe First Nation, Fort Simpson Métis Nation, Nahanni Butte Dene Band, and Sambaa K’e First Nation united to form Dehcho Regional Helicopters. Their goal: secure the contract to provide wildfire management services for the Fort Simpson fire base.

The partnership grew in 2010 to include Liidlii Kue First Nation and Pehdzeh Ki First Nation, bringing all seven Nations together under one banner. This expansion solidified Dehcho Regional Helicopters as the only completely Indigenous-owned helicopter company in the Northwest Territories.

Every summer since, their helicopters have been on the front lines—safeguarding communities, cabins, and traditional lands from wildfire devastation. For the partners, this work is more than business. It is a source of pride, a demonstration of resilience, and a living expression of stewardship.

Today, Dehcho Regional Helicopters stands as a model of Indigenous economic development rooted in sovereignty, unity, and environmental responsibility. It is a story of vision, collaboration, and commitment to protecting the land for generations to come.