Yellowknife (Jun 19/06) - Residents of Jean Marie River raised their flag over Yellowknife on Friday morning, joining the 33 NWT communities whose flags line the Capital Park causeway.

It took the community about a year to design the crest on the flag. The image is now being used on the community's official letterhead as well.

Nahendeh MLA Kevin Menicoche, Sarah Hardisty, Margaret Ireland, Mary-Louise Sanquez and Chief Stan Sanquez reveal the new flag representing Jean Marie River near the Legislative Assembly in Yellowknife. - Jennifer Geens/NNSL photo

"We wanted to incorporate the three sisters who founded the community," said Jean Marie River resident Margaret Ireland.

It was a group effort by the Deh Cho community of about 60 people. All of their ideas were passed on to a local artist who painted the finished design.

In the design, the three founding sisters - Sophie, Cecile and Margaret - look down on a depiction of the river and their hair becomes three large pines in the landscape.

The colours are a soft blend of yellow ochre, green and blue.

Having previously lived in seasonal camps, the sisters settled permanently at Jean Marie River about 90 years ago, and descendants of the three women were present at the flag-raising ceremony.

"I'm proud to see the creation of our community flying above us now," said Chief Stan Sanquez.