Wekweeti

Wekweètì
First Nation

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Wekweètì
Coordinates: 64°11′25″N 114°10′58″W / 64.19028°N 114.18278°W / 64.19028; -114.18278Coordinates: 64°11′25″N 114°10′58″W / 64.19028°N 114.18278°W / 64.19028; -114.18278
Country Canada
Territory Northwest Territories
Region North Slave Region
Monfwi Mackenzie Delta
Census division Region 3
Permanent community 1962
Incorporated 4 August 2005
Government
 • Chief Johnny Arrowmaker
 • Senior Administrative Officer Grace Angel
 • MLA Jackson Lafferty
Area[1]
 • Land 14.67 km2 (5.66 sq mi)
Elevation 368 m (1,207 ft)
Population (2011)[1]
 • Total 141
 • Density 9.6/km2 (25/sq mi)
Time zone Mountain (MST) (UTC−7)
 • Summer (DST) MDT (UTC−6)
Canadian Postal code X0E 1W0
Area code(s) 867
Telephone exchange 713
- Food price index 155.0A
Sources:
Department of Municipal and Community Affairs,[2]
Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre,[3]
Canada Flight Supplement[4]
^A 2010 figure based on Yellowknife = 100[5]

Wekweètì (from the Dogrib language meaning "rock lakes"), officially the Tlicho Community Government of Wekweètì[6] is a community in the North Slave Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada.

Wekweètì is a Tłı̨chǫ (Dogrib Dene) aboriginal community and is located 195 km (121 mi) north of Yellowknife. It has no year-round road access but does have a winter ice road connection; the majority of transportation to and from the community is through the Wekweètì Airport. Wekweètì is the closest community to the Ekati Diamond Mine on the border with Nunavut. Wekweètì is part of the Tlicho Government.[7]

History

The area is within the traditional territory of the Tłı̨chǫ (Dogrib) First Nation and was a popular hunting camp prior to permanent settlement. In the 1960s, Dene elders around Behchoko decided to return to the land and establish traditional camps in the bush. Wekweètì was established during this time, although in more recent years it too has become a modern community with essential services of its own. The community was formerly known as Snare Lake until 1 November 1998; prior to 4 August 2005 the community name used the spelling Wekweti.

Demographics

The population was 137 according to the 2011 Census an increase of 2.9% over the 2006 Census, the majority of whom were First Nations.[1] In 2012 the Government of the Northwest Territories reported that the population was 141 with an average yearly growth rate of 0.5% from 2001.[5]

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1996146—    
1997135−7.5%
1998138+2.2%
1999138+0.0%
2000142+2.9%
2001138−2.8%
2002142+2.9%
2003151+6.3%
2004139−7.9%
YearPop.±%
2005140+0.7%
2006142+1.4%
2007142+0.0%
2008143+0.7%
2009145+1.4%
2010145+0.0%
2011145+0.0%
2012141−2.8%
Sources: NWT Bureau of Statistics (2001 - 2012)[5]

Services

Alexis Arrowmaker School is Wekweètì's Elementary/Junior School and was rebuilt in 1994.[8] The school is named after Alexis Arrowmaker one of the signers of Treaty 11. The community has a store, Hozila Naedik'e General Store,[9] a ten bed hotel/lodge, Wekweeti Hotel/Snare Lake Lodge,[10] a Health Station, a Community Learning Centre but no RCMP detachment.[11]

See also

References

Further reading

  • Northwest Territories, and BHP Billiton Diamonds Inc. Communities and Diamonds Socio-Economic Impacts in the Communities of: Behchoko, Gameti, Whati, Wekweeti, Detah, Ndilo, Lutsel K'e, and Yellowknife : 2005 Annual Report of the Government of the Northwest Territories Under the BHP Billiton, Diavik and De Beers Socio-Economic Agreements. [Yellowknife]: Govt. of the Northwest Territories, 2006.
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