Gordon Robertson Education Centre (GREC) opened in 1971 as a junior and senior high school and vocational school. In addition to local students from Iqaluit, its enrolment included students from other communities who were housed in Ukkivik Hall, which opened along with GREC and closed in 1996. In the early 1990s, the school was renamed Inuksuk High School.

Alexander Halley Low was born March 29,1892 in Kensington, London, England, the son of Alexander Graham Low and Annie Halley. He received a Master of Arts degree from Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge and studied geology at the Royal School of Mines, London. He served in World War I, mostly in Ireland.

Around 1914, Alexander went on an oil prospecting trip in the Northwest Territories with Dr. T. O. Bosworth. Following the War, he returned to the Northwest Territories as an oil prospector in the Great Slave Slake region for the Imperial Oil Company. While there, he was approached by Bishop James R. Lucas to teach at the St. Peter's Mission (Residential) School in Hay River ca. 1918-19. In the early 1920s he continued oil exploration in the Fort Norman (now Tulita) area of the Northwest Territories with Mackenzie River Oil Ltd.

Alexander also did some oil prospecting in Peru and was a member of the Royal Geographical Society. He married Dorothy Lindesay Gregory in 1933 and had two children, Jean Mary Lindesay Low and Alexander John Stewart Low. Alexander Halley Low died July 2, 1974 in Ferring, Sussex, England.

Samuel Hearne Secondary School (SHSS) began operating in 1966 and was officially opened two years later by Minister Jean Chretien. Prior to 1966, Inuvik students from all grades attended Sir Alexander Mackenzie School, which continued operating as an elementary school after SHSS opened. The school was originally administered by the federal government; it was transferred to the Government of the Northwest Territories in 1969, and then to the Beaufort-Delta Divisional Education Council, which was established in 1989 to administer regional schools.

The original high school building included two science rooms, a library, industrial arts and home economics facilities and a gym. A 10 classroom addition was completed in 1972, and several trade shops were added in the early 1980s to meet the needs of a vocational certificate program, including an auto shop in 1982, carpentry shop in 1983, and general mechanics shop in 1984.

In addition to residents of the town of Inuvik, the student body at SHSS also included residential school students brought from communities across the Beaufort Delta region and the Arctic to stay at the two major Federal hostels, Stringer Hall (which closed in 1975) and Grollier Hall (which closed in 1996). After the closure of the hostels, students from some small communities continued to attend SHSS for the upper high school grades while boarding in private homes in the town.

SHSS closed in 2012 when it was replaced by the new East Three Secondary School, and the building was demolished in June 2013.

Galena Heights Elementary School opened in 1977, originally housing pupils from kindergarten to grade two. Galena Heights Elementary School was expanded in 1980 to host students up to grade five after a fire destroyed the other school in the town; the rebuilt Matonabbee School opened in 1981 for the senior grades. Both schools closed in June 1988 with the closure of the mine and community of Pine Point.

The Sachs Harbour School was constructed in the summer of 1968, first opening in fall 1968 to students in grades 1-6 and originally operated by the federal government. Prior to the school being built, children were sent to Shingle Point, Aklavik, then Inuvik for schooling, and after its construction, older students continued to go to Inuvik for later grades. This school was transferred to the GNWT when it assumed responsibility for education in 1969, and was replaced by Inualthuyuk School which opened in 1973.

The provision of western education in Inuvik began immediately during the community’s construction, with a temporary Federal school in 1956. Several of the attending children came from Aklavik, from where community government officials were strongly encouraging families to relocate. In 1959 a large new regional school opened, officially named Sir Alexander Mackenzie School (SAMS) in 1961. This school housed all grades until Samuel Hearne Secondary School was built in 1966. By that time SAMS had 38 classrooms and capacity for 890 students from grades 1 to 12.

In 1969 all educational facilities in Inuvik were transferred to the Government of the Northwest Territories, who assumed responsibilities for education from the federal government. The Beaufort-Delta Divisional Education Council was established in 1989 to administer regional schools.

In addition to residents of the town of Inuvik, the student body at SAMS for much of its history also included residential school students brought from communities across the Beaufort Delta region and the Arctic to stay at the two major Federal hostels, Stringer Hall (which closed in 1975) and Grollier Hall (which closed in 1996).

SAMS continued to operate as an elementary school until 2012, when it was replaced by the new East Three Elementary School. The SAMS building was demolished in May 2014.

The Norman Wells Federal Day School opened in 1960, and was transferred to the territorial government when it assumed responsibility for education in 1969. The school was originally a one room school located on the river bank, and classes were relocated several times, operating out of portable classrooms through most of the 1970s. It was replaced by the Mackenzie Mountain School, which opened in 1983.

The Fort Norman Federal Day School, also known as the Colin Campbell School, was constructed in 1949 or 1950 in the community now known as Tulita. It initially had two classrooms, with a third added in 1968/69. In 1969 the facility was taken over by the territorial government. Although the school ‘s enrolment consisted of children whose families lived in the community, for a brief period in 1971 there was a small hostel associated with it, to provide a temporary residence for children whose parents were out on the land. The school was replaced by the Chief Albert Wright School, which opened in 1980.

The provision of western education in Nahanni Butte began when evangelist missionaries Mr and Mrs Philip Howard began instructing children in early 1957, without the approval of the Federal government. Summer (tent) school was provided in 1957 and 1958.

A one-room school building was completed around 1959, but the opening of an official Federal Day School was delayed until 1961 due to staffing and housing issues. This school was transferred to the GNWT when it assumed responsibility for education in 1969 and was eventually given the name Charles Yohin School. The school building has been replaced twice, in 1978 and 1985, with both new buildings being constructed by the people of the community.

The DehCho Division Board of Education was established under the authority of the revisions to the Archives Act and the related establishment regulation in 1995. It was renamed the Dehcho Divisional Education Council (DDEC) with revisions to the regulations in 2002.

The Dehcho Divisional Education Council (DDEC) is tasked with setting policy for the operation of schools within the Dehcho region, with financial decisions and setting broad education goals for the region. Each municipality that has a school also has a District Education Authority (DEA). The DEA is responsible for the operation of the school or schools within it's municipal boundries. The DDEC works in conjunction with the District Education Authories (DEAs) to ensure that provisions of the Education Act and regulations pursuant to the Act are fulfilled. Each DEA must select a member to represent them on the Division Education Council.

Mildred Josephine Young was born in Toronto in 1924. A schoolteacher, at age 20 she went to the Yukon, and later Moose Factory, Ontario and Yellowknife, Northwest Territories at the age of 23 in 1947. She left Yellowknife for Southern Ontario in 1950. She later became a school inspector (classroom consultant), living in Winisk, Ontario where she met her husband George Hubbert. Millie Hubbert travelled to Fort Good Hope in 1969. Ms. Hubbert published three books in the 1990s, "Since the Day I Was Born", about her life growing up in depression-era Toronto and "Into Canada's North: Because It Was There", recalling her adventures teaching in the North. The third book, recalling her time in Winisk, was entitled "Winisk: On the Shore of Hudson Bay". The manuscript was completed shortly before her passing in March, 1997.

John "Jock" Murray McMeekan was born on January 3, 1903 in London, England and raised in Scotland. He studied romance languages and geology at London University for two years before immigrating to Canada. Between the years 1925 and 1935, he traveled across Canada writing and editing for various newspapers and prospecting for mining operations. In 1935, he arrived in Yellowknife and was employed by Burwash Yellowknife Mines to do prospecting, geological work and mapping. In 1940, Jock McMeekan started publishing the "Yellowknife Blade" which he published sporadically until 1953. In 1953, he moved to Uranium City in Saskatchewan and began publishing the "Uranium Era", which ran until 1960. He restarted the "Yellowknife Blade" in 1960, but stopped publishing it when he became associated with the "Mackenzie Press" in Hay River in 1962. He remained with the "Mackenzie Press" for only a short period and in 1963, he began publishing "The Hay River Optimist", which ran until his death on September 16, 1963. Jock's interest in prospecting and the mining industry is reflected in a number of his activities including his help in establishing the Prospectors Association and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation radio series "The Prospector Speaks" which aired between 1960 and 1962.

Mildred Itasca Hall was born in Iowa on October 23, 1899 and emigrated with her family to Olds, Alberta. She studied at the University of Alberta and became a schoolteacher. She moved to Yellowknife in 1938, and became the first public school teacher in the Northwest Territories. She married Jock McMeekan in 1941 and worked with him in the printing and publishing of the "Yellowknife Blade". She and Jock were devoted naturalists and loved to explore the land around Yellowknife. Mildred was intent on using whatever nature provided, picking berries and preserving food in the root cellar for the winter. Mildred also worked to publish her husband's works after his death, but died May 4, 1974 in Victoria B.C. before the project was completed. A former employee Gladys McCurdy Gould completed Mildred's work and published "Jock McMeekan's Yellowknife Blade" in 1984.

In 1948, Jock and Mildred accepted responsibility for raising Mildred's five-year-old niece, Hélène. Hélène (previously Giles, Henderson) Acikahte currently lives in Edmonton.

Beryl Lynette (Lyn) Hancock was born on January 5, 1938 in East Fremantle, Western Australia. She attended secondary school at Princess May School in Western Australia and attended the University of Western Australia between 1955-1957 where she received her diploma in Speech Arts and her Teachers' Certificate from Graylands Teachers College in 1956. She also attended the Trinity College the Royal Academy of Music in London, England where she studied Speech, Drama, Mime and Movement between 1959-1961. In 1977, she received her Teacher's certification from the British Columbia Department of Education. She also received her Bachelor of Education and Master of Arts degrees from Simon Fraser University in 1977 and 1981 respectively. Lyn Hancock moved to the Northwest Territories with her former husband David in 1972. While living in the NWT, she wrote and sold stories to newspapers and magazines such as Above and Beyond, Up Here, Northwest Explorer, Milepost, and Northern News Services; she also wrote and published several books about the North and took many photographs. In addition, Lyn worked with local tourism agencies and Government agencies to promote tourism and pass on her love of the North. She lived in Fort Simpson for seven years before leaving in 1995 with her husband Frank Schober. Lyn currently lives in British Columbia and travels extensively around the world. She has received several literary awards and is the author of over 30 books.

The roots of the Northwest Territories’ college system begins with the adult education programs offered by the federal government, usually out of the federal day schools in communities across the NWT. During the late 1960s, Frontier College was also contracted to create a system of community-based adult education, with accompanying legislation being passed in 1974.
Responsibility for education, including adult education, was transferred to the territorial government in 1969. Also in 1969, the Adult Vocational Training Centre (AVTC) was established in Fort Smith, following a Heavy Equipment Operators course offered at nearby Fox Holes 1968. Canada Manpower/CEIC began sponsoring programs at AVTC in 1971 and in 1981, AVTC became Thebacha College.

However, there was recognition that program delivery at the community level was desirable, creating Arctic College in 1984 with campuses in Iqaluit and Fort Smith. Campuses were eventually established in each region of the Northwest Territories with headquarters in Yellowknife. The Arctic College Act was passed in 1986, making it an arm’s length corporate entity and giving it the mandate to deliver adult and post-secondary education. The Aurora Campus in Inuvik was established in 1987. By 1990 the community learning centres were also rolled into the College system.

In 1992, the head office of Arctic College was decentralized to Fort Smith and Iqaluit to prepare for the creation of two colleges as part of the preparations for division with Nunavut. On January 1, 1995 Nunavut Arctic College was established for the Eastern Arctic and Aurora College for the Western Arctic. The Science Institute of the Northwest Territories (SINT) was also rolled into the colleges to provide an in-house research institute for each.

The roots of the Northwest Territories’ college system begins with the adult education programs offered by the federal government, usually out of the federal day schools in communities across the NWT. During the late 1960s, Frontier College was also contracted to create a system of community-based adult education, with accompanying legislation being passed in 1974.
Responsibility for education, including adult education, was transferred to the territorial government in 1969. Also in 1969, the Adult Vocational Training Centre (AVTC) was established in Fort Smith, following a Heavy Equipment Operators course offered at nearby Fox Holes 1968. Canada Manpower/CEIC began sponsoring programs at AVTC in 1971 and in 1981, AVTC became Thebacha College.

However, there was recognition that program delivery at the community level was desirable, creating Arctic College in 1984 with campuses in Iqaluit and Fort Smith. Campuses were eventually established in each region of the Northwest Territories with headquarters in Yellowknife. The Arctic College Act was passed in 1986, making it an arm’s length corporate entity and giving it the mandate to deliver adult and post-secondary education. The Aurora Campus in Inuvik was established in 1987. By 1990 the community learning centres were also rolled into the College system.

In 1992, the head office of Arctic College was decentralized to Fort Smith and Iqaluit to prepare for the creation of two colleges as part of the preparations for division with Nunavut. On January 1, 1995 Nunavut Arctic College was established for the Eastern Arctic and Aurora College for the Western Arctic. The Science Institute of the Northwest Territories (SINT) was also rolled into the colleges to provide an in-house research institute for each.

Aurora College has transfer agreements and partnerships with a wide variety of technical schools, colleges and universities throughout Canada and the circumpolar world. It offers trade and apprenticeship training, certificate, diploma and degree programs, adult literacy, and basic and continuing education courses.

Aurora College is governed by a Board of Governors, appointed by the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. The Board determines policies for the administration of the College, recommends priorities to the Ministers for programs and courses, and manages the College’s finances, among other duties. The head of Aurora College is the President, who is appointed by the Minister and is a non-voting member of the Board. The President supervises, administers and directs the operation of the College in accordance with the Board’s direction. There are currently campuses in Inuvik (Aurora Campus), Fort Smith (Thebacha Campus), and Yellowknife (North Slave Campus), with Community Learning Centres in most of the NWT’s other communities. Headquarters is in Fort Smith.

The Department of Social Services was established in 1978 when the Department of Health and Social Services was split to form two distinct departments.

The Department of Social Services was responsible for promoting, improving and preserving the social well being of the residents of the Northwest Territories. The department provided services directly to individuals and families and supported the delivery of services through community-based organizations and agencies. Community Social Services Workers were placed in most communities and provided financial assistance assessments, investigated complaints of child neglect and abuse, supervised probationers and parolees and provided counseling to children and adults. The department assisted groups in organizing and providing services to the aged and handicapped, operated child care facilities, adult and youth correctional centres and homes for handicapped and elderly persons requiring assistance. In addition, funding was provided for foster homes and home support services to enable residents to remain in their homes as long as possible. Awareness programs and training were offered in the prevention of drug and alcohol abuse, domestic abuse and child abuse.

The Administration Activity was responsible for developing, coordinating and managing the delivery of services related to child welfare, special services, financial assistance services, alcohol and drug programs, institutional and community corrections services and programs for the elderly and disabled in Yellowknife and within the communities. This Activity provided the funds for all staff within these programs, except those working in institutional settings. As the Department of Social Services evolved, this activity became responsible for development of policies and management of the department to ensure consistent application of policy, programs, standards and procedures throughout the Northwest Territories. In 1988, this activity was renamed the Directorate; it consisted of the Deputy Minister's Office, the Policy and Planning and Finance and Administration Support Divisions, the Regional Superintendents and their support staff, and Community Social Service Workers located in the communities throughout the Northwest Territories. The Directorate was also responsible for the delivery of the Youth Initiatives Program that assisted community groups that were interested in developing youth leadership programs, drug and alcohol prevention programs and educational and counseling programs.

The Corrections Activity was comprised of institutional corrections programs and community-based corrections programs. The institutional corrections programs provided custody, supervision and rehabilitative treatment to persons sentenced to jail terms in the Northwest Territories. Wilderness programs, education and life skills training were offered within the correctional facility that provided inmates with skills appropriate to the north that would encourage self-reliance and responsibility. The institutional corrections programs also provided probation, parole services and offered programs to help offenders adjust to community life after their release. The community-based corrections programs provided an alternative to incarceration for the offender and offered greater public protection through crime deterrence and offender rehabilitation. The Fine Options program for example, enabled persons who could not pay fines to do community service as a substitute. The Victim/Offender conciliation program was another program administered by community agencies through service contracts. Staff training and a Correctional Officer training program, geared towards aboriginal northerners, was also offered through this activity. Community service, restitution and work programs were other major programs delivered by this division. The Corrections Division was involved with the upgrading of correctional facilities, as well as the construction and opening of facilities within the communities, such as the South Mackenzie Correctional Centre and Baffin Correctional Centre. Corrections Services were also responsible for developing crime prevention programs in the communities of the Northwest Territories. In 1988-89, the Correction Services Activity expanded to include a Custody and Community Corrections program for Young Offenders. Emphasis was placed on improving educational and life skills programming within the already established young offender facilities, as well as constructing two permanent facilities in Iqaluit and Yellowknife. The division continued to emphasize alternatives to institutional care for young offenders through measures administered by Youth Justice Committees that utilized community resources such as probation services and community service orders. In 1993-94, the Department of Justice assumed the responsibility for Corrections Services.

The Family and Children's Services Activity was responsible for providing services relating to Child Welfare, Child Day Care, Child Sexual Abuse and Family Violence Prevention. The activity provided substitute care for children in the custody of Child Welfare, under the Child Welfare Ordinance or Juvenile Delinquent Act. Substitute care resources included adoptive homes, foster homes and group homes. Receiving home facilities such as Trailcross and River Ridge (Fort Smith) provided assessment and treatment services for adolescents; Northern Lights (Inuvik) and the Yellowknife Receiving Home provided group home treatment and family crisis services. The Family and Children's Services Activity emphasized community involvement in responding to child welfare needs and workshops and programs were offered in order facilitate that involvement. In 1981, the Hay River and Fort Providence Dene bands, with assistance from the Department of Social Services, successfully organized and operated three summer camps for young people in order to prevent young people to from coming into conflict with the law. The camps were then used as bases for fall and winter trapping activities in which juvenile offenders would be under the supervision of experienced trappers and hunters. The activity evaluated programs and facilities and offered training programs to staff in dealing with behavioral and emotional problems of children and families. This activity developed a childcare diploma program that was delivered by Arctic College in 1987. Family and Children Services also became involved with custom, private, departmental and international adoptions in the late 1980's. When the Child Day Care Facilities Act and Regulations came into effect in 1988, this activity assisted child day care facilities in becoming licensed and then was responsible for inspecting and monitoring day care centres throughout the Northwest Territories. The day care program also administered grants and contributions to licensed day care operators and offered training assistance to day care staff. In 1986-87, a Spousal Assault Service was introduced to the Department of Social Services and joined the Family and Children's Services Activity in 1988. The primary function of this activity was to develop family violence programs that would encourage and enable families and communities to help themselves and to provide safety and assistance for those living with violence. Community crisis centres were developed, as well as, shelter programs and counseling services for assault victims and for the batterers.

In 1980, the Services to the Aged and Handicapped Activity was added to the Department of Social Services. This activity provided funds and guidance to purchase and provide services to assist the elderly and disabled people to maintain themselves in their own home or community. Coordinated home care programs such as protective visiting, the delivery of meals and home nursing services were delivered through cooperation from hospitals. Studies and need assessments were conducted to determine the needs of handicapped people and elderly people in the north. This activity was responsible for a wide range of personal, community and residential services for the aged and handicapped. This involved the development of appropriate standards and policies, as well as planning services and constructing facilities.

Financial Assistance Services, formerly known as Income Maintenance (1978-79), provided social assistance, supplementary benefits to recipients of Old Age Security plus the Guaranteed Income Supplement and provided financial assistance for payment of non-insured health services for persons who were unable to pay the cost. This activity also identified the various types of interventions and counseling that were offered by the department in order to develop self-support and problem solving to those in need. Community Social Service workers provided counseling in order to teach life skills and promote self-support. In 1988-89, this activity joined with the Aged and Handicapped Services to form Community and Family Support Services.

The Community and Family Support Services Division provided services and financial assistance to the aged and handicapped persons and to individuals and families in financial need. This division also facilitated and monitored the transfer of social services programs and services to local governments under the Government of the Northwest Territories Transfer Policy. The Financial Assistance service within this division provided financial support to persons requiring assistance in meeting their basic needs, day care subsidies to parents and supplementary benefits to qualified northern recipients of Old Age Security and the Guaranteed Income Supplement and the Senior Citizen Supplementary Benefit Act. The division also provided information and assisted community and band councils interested in assuming increased responsibility for program delivery. The division processed and approved applications for rehabilitation programs and provided for an appeal process. Through an employment enhancement program that was cost shared with the federal government, recipients of social assistance were placed in job training programs for guiding, outfitting, tool making, carving, skin preparation, sewing and academic upgrading.

In 1981-82, the Alcohol and Drug Service was added to the Department of Social Services. This activity provided contribution funding to support community-based alcohol and drug projects in order to combat alcohol and drug abuse in the Northwest Territories. The division assisted in the development and delivery of staff training programs for local people that would enable them to work in projects within their home communities. The Alcohol and Drug Service provided administrative services to the Alcohol and Drug Coordinating Council, which included assessment of funding applications and project evaluations. The Alcohol and Drug Coordinating Council employed staff who offered education, counseling and rehabilitation services to community residents. The Alcohol and Drug Coordinating Council also acted as the Regional Advisory Board for the federal National Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program. Other major program areas included community education and in-school programs that were designed to increase public awareness of impaired driving and fetal alcohol syndrome. Alcohol Awareness Week was coordinated in conjunction with the Departments of Education and Health and a youth alcohol and drug prevention program was delivered by this activity. Consultative and counseling services were also provided to governmental employees through liaison with the Department of Personnel.

In 1988-89, the activity was renamed the Alcohol, Drug and Community Mental Health Activity. The activity was responsible for facilitating the transfer of community based mental health services and the National Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program from the federal government. Emphasis continued to be the development of programs that prevented alcohol, drug and mental health programs at the community level. The Community Mental Health Programs consisted of regional specialists who provided advice, guidance and support to community groups who wished to take an active role in the prevention and treatment of mental health programs. These specialists also provided counseling and crisis intervention services. The Clinical Assessment and Treatment Services provided a team of children's mental health specialists who were available to travel to communities upon request of regional centres. The specialist provided assessments, diagnosis, consultation and treatment for children and adolescents with emotional, behavioural and psychological problems. Between 1990-1991, a Suicide Prevention Program was added to this activity. Work on developing a northern suicide prevention-training curriculum began in Baker Lake, Coppermine, Iqaluit, Fort Smith, Inuvik, Fort Simpson and Yellowknife, which assisted community groups in educating the public about suicide prevention. This activity also provided psychological services to correctional centres.

In 1995, the Department of Social Services and the Department of Health were consolidated to form a single department called the Department of Health and Social Services.