Tłı̨chǫ Yatıı̀ is a Northern Dene language spoken by the Tłı̨chǫ Dene. The 2014 NWT Community Survey reported that there were over 2,235 people who spoke Tłı̨chǫ Yatıı̀. The Tłı̨chǫ region covers the northern shore of Great Slave Lake, reaching almost up to Great Bear Lake. Behchokǫ̀ is the largest community in the Tłı̨chǫ region.
Dëne Sųłıné has been referred to as Chipewyan. The 2014 NWT Community Survey reported that there were over 560 people who spoke Dëne Sųłıné. Across Canada, Dëne Sųłıné has over 12,000 speakers throughout Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba and the Northwest Territories. The Dëne Sųłıné region covers the southern shores of Great Slave Lake, and ranges across northern Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, and southern Nunavut.
Dene Zhatıé has been referred to as South Slavey and is spoken by the Dehcho Dene. The 2014 NWT Community Survey reported that there were over 1,440 people who spoke Dene Zhatıé. The Dehcho region covers the southern part of the Dehcho (Mackenzie River), and reaches south into northern Alberta and British Columbia.
Sahtúot’ı̨nę Yatı̨́ has been referred to as North Slavey. The 2014 NWT Community Survey reported that there were over 1,080 people who spoke Sahtúot’ı̨nę Yatı̨́. The Sahtú region reaches from the western shores of Great Bear Lake to across the western border of the NWT.
Gwich’in is spoken by the Gwich’in people. The 2014 NWT Community Survey reported that there were over 335 people who spoke Gwich’in. The Gwich’in region is spreads from the northern shores of the Mackenzie River, across northern Yukon and northeastern Alaska.