Through out time Great Slave Lake has been the “Great Connector” for the people of the north. Frozen-over for nearly eight months of the year the Great Slave Lake connects numerous communities together. On its solid surface, dog teams have raced across the lake carrying everything from furs to missionaries. Even today, the lake's waters connect outlying communities. Once a year, when the conditions are right, ferry boats cross the great lake pulling barges filled with supplies, ranging from prefabricated homes to cake mix.