TTHEK'EHDELI/JEAN MARIE RIVER - For Jean Marie River the past week was the busiest the community has been in years.

As the host of this year's Dehcho First Nations' annual assembly Jean Marie River's population of 71 people nearly tripled between June 22 and 26.

Richard Sanguez chops wood for the fire in the arbour, just one of the many tasks that kept staff in Jean Marie River busy during the Dehcho First Nations' annual assembly. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

Allan Browning, the community's recreation co-ordinator, estimates 195 people stayed during the assembly.

The numbers swelled even higher during some of the evening entertainment like the talent show on Wednesday night that drew an audience of approximately 300 people, Browning said.

While guests and delegates were enjoying themselves in the evenings and making important decisions during the day, behind the scenes a crew of people were working to ensure everything ran smoothly.

Browning and Fred Norwegian, the acting band manager, were Jean Marie River's joint co-ordinators for the assembly.

"It's huge. It's not really an 8 to 5 job," said Browning during a short break on Thursday afternoon.

Both of the men estimated they were working 17 hour days during the assembly.

"For me there was a bit of stress involved," said Norwegian.

Norwegian admitted he woke up a few times in the middle of the night and thought about the things that had to be done.

The community began planning for the assembly in April. The three biggest tasks were constructing an arbour, which was finished a week before the assembly, building a kitchen, which was done the day before and feeding all the guests, said Browning.

"That's huge," he said.

A kitchen staff of nine people from a variety of communities worked in two shifts to prepare and serve the food. One crew started around 5 a.m. to prepare breakfast and the second crew arrived at 11 a.m.

Around the community another 10 adults were on the job daily as the work crew and security detail. The work crew looks after everything from sewer to water to garbage, said Browning.

Every adult in the community has been involved in the assembly in some way, said Norwegian. Almost every yard has tents pitched on it and many women have been cooking pies at home for the meals, Norwegian said.

Out in the field, Richard Sanguez took a break from chopping wood to talk about the assembly.

"I'm just happy," said Sanguez about having the event in his home community.

The assembly has been a lot of work but Sanguez said he doesn't mind. During the week Sanguez worked security but also helped with odd jobs.

Jean Marie River is proud to host the assembly, said Chief Isadore Simon.

"I'm overwhelmed. I'm really enjoying it," said Simon.

Simon said he wasn't expecting to see quite as many people attend. There are people here from across the Deh Cho and even the Sahtu, said Simon. Some government leaders including MP Dennis Bevington and MLA Kevin Menicoche also made appearances.

"Everyone's enjoying themselves," Simon said.