The major economic resource of the Northwest Territories is minerals. Mining, commercial fishing, transportation, tourism and service activities are the primary economic activities. Trapping has become less important but handicraft work by the Inuit such as soapstone carving has become more important.
Reindeer are raised in northern MacKenzie. Forestry is of limited importance. Lake trout and whitefish are caught for commercial means in Great Slave Lake. Mining accounts for 25% of the annual gross domestic product. Zinc and lead are mined at Pine Point and near Arctic Bay. Silver is mined near Great Bear Lake and gold is mined in Yellowknife. Petroleum is produced at Norman Wells as well as natural gas. Raw materials are also manufactured.
