Fish was an extremely important source of nutrition for the Dogrib. The relative abundance of fish in the region stands in contrast to other forms of wildlife, such as moose or caribou, which were often scarce. In fact, fish are plentiful enough that they're frequently used to feed sled dogs.

The Dogrib have developed several fishing techniques over the centuries to harvest this crucial resource. Hooks, lines, nets and fishing poles were made using materials from the land. The type of terrain, the species of fish being caught, and the time of year helped determine the technique chosen for fishing.