Whatì

Whatì (/ˈhwɒti/;[6] from the Dogrib language meaning "Marten Lakes"), officially the Tłı̨chǫ Community Government of Whatì[7] is a First Nations community in the North Slave Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. Whatì is located by Lac La Martre, about 164 km (102 mi) northwest of the territorial capital of Yellowknife.

Whatì

Wha Tì

Tsõtì
Mïne Kö Golàa
First Nation
Flag
Whatì
Whatì
Coordinates: 63°08′40″N 117°16′22″W
CountryCanada
TerritoryNorthwest Territories
RegionNorth Slave
ConstituencyMonfwi
North West Company trading post1793
Incorporated4 August 2005
Government
 • ChiefAlfonz Nitsiza
 • Senior Administrative OfficerLisa Nitsiza
 • MLAJackson Lafferty
Area
 • Land59.95 km2 (23.15 sq mi)
Elevation
269 m (883 ft)
Population
 (2016)[1]
 • Total470
 • Density7.8/km2 (20/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−07:00 (MST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−06:00 (MDT)
Canadian Postal code
X0E 1P0
Area code(s)867
Telephone exchange573
- Living cost152.5A
- Food price index145.7B
Sources:
Department of Municipal and Community Affairs,[2]
Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre,[3]
Canada Flight Supplement[4]
^A 2013 figure based on Edmonton = 100[5]
^B 2015 figure based on Yellowknife = 100[5]

History

With rich and varied wildlife, the area has long been a favoured hunting ground of the Tłı̨chǫ (Dogrib Dene) Indigenous people. The North West Company established a trading post there in 1793, and many natives began settling there permanently, while they continued to hunt and fish in the area. With the establishment of a trading post at Fort Rae on Great Slave Lake in the late 19th century, most regional trading was accomplished at the Hudson's Bay Company and free traders posts there. A trading post at Lac La Martre was not again established until the 1920s.[8]

On 1 January 1996, the community officially changed its name from Lac La Martre to the Tłı̨chǫ name "Wha Ti", meaning "Marten Lake," the same meaning as the French and then on 4 August 2005[3] to the current spelling. Other traditional Tłı̨chǫ names for the settlement include Tsoti ('fouled water lake') and Mine Go Kola ('net fishing with houses').[3]

Before 2005, the community was unincorporated, and local governance was provided by a First Nations band government, Wha Ti First Nation. Under the terms of the Tłı̨chǫ Agreement, most responsibilities of Wha Ti have been transferred to a new Whatì Community Government. However, the First Nation is still recognized by the federal government for Indian Act enrollment.

Demographics

At the 2016 Census the population was 470, a decrease of 4.5% over the 2011 Census. The majority of the population is Indigenous of which 445 were First Nations and 10 were Métis. The main languages were Dogrib and English with a few North Slavey speakers.[1]

In 2017 the Government of the Northwest Territories reported that the population was 522 with an average yearly growth rate of 0.6% from 2007.[5]

Historical population
YearPop.±%
2001491—    
2002486−1.0%
2003481−1.0%
2004490+1.9%
2005491+0.2%
2006480−2.2%
2007491+2.3%
2008480−2.2%
2009488+1.7%
YearPop.±%
2010494+1.2%
2011490−0.8%
2012507+3.5%
2013505−0.4%
2014513+1.6%
2015533+3.9%
2016529−0.8%
2017522−1.3%
Sources: NWT Bureau of Statistics (2001 - 2017)[9]

Economy

While trapping, hunting, and fishing continue to be the main economic activities in this traditional community, efforts have been made to develop tourism as well. A fishing lodge was opened, and many tourists come to see the abundant wildlife, including black bears, barren-ground caribou, wolves, and eagles. The community takes special pride in the fact that no alcohol is allowed there.

Whatì is part of the Tlicho Government.[10]

Transport

Whatì is currently only accessible from the rest of Canada by the Whatì Airport and a winter road. Construction of the Tlicho All-Season Road began in 2019 and is due to finish in 2022.[11]

See also

References
  1. Census Profile, 2016 Census Whatì, Community government (Census subdivision), Northwest Territories and Northwest Territories (Territory)
  2. "NWT Communities - Whatì". Government of the Northwest Territories: Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. Retrieved 2014-01-29.
  3. "Northwest Territories Official Community Names and Pronunciation Guide". Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre. Yellowknife: Education, Culture and Employment, Government of the Northwest Territories. Archived from the original on 2016-01-13. Retrieved 2016-01-13.
  4. Canada Flight Supplement. Effective 0901Z 30 January 2020 to 0901Z 26 March 2020.
  5. Whatì - Statistical Profile at the GNWT
  6. Tłı̨chǫ Agreement (PDF), Ottawa: Queen's Printer for Canada, 2003, ISBN 0662349717
  7. Differences in Community Government Structures
  8. Free Traders in Northland Start Again, The Edmonton Bulletin, May 6, 1922
  9. Population Estimates By Community from the GNWT
  10. Whatì at the Tlicho Government
  11. "Work begins on 97-km all-season road in N.W.T." canada.constructconnect.com. 23 October 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
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