Turnor Lake


Turnor Lake is a community on the southern shore of Turnor Lake. From Highway 155 it is accessible by Highway 909. The community includes the Northern Hamlet of Turnor Lake and Turnor Lake 193B of the Birch Narrows First Nation.
The combined population was 598 in the 2011 Canada Census. Turnor Lake had 179 people and Birch Narrows had 419 people.

History

The lake was once called Island Lake. In 1895, Birch Narrows had 5 families or 25 people in residence.
Father Penard of La Loche mentions in his letter of 1911 that there were six or seven families living at "le Detroit du Bouleau" 35 miles east of La Loche.
In 1938, Father Ducharme had a chapel built in the community.
In 1966, the people of Clear Lake were relocated to Turnor Lake.

Birch Narrows Dene Nation

As of June 2012, Birch Narrows Dene Nation had 409 members living on reserve and 299 members living at locations off reserve. It is affiliated with the Meadow Lake Tribal Council.
Birch Narrows Dene Nation has territory at three sites: