Wekweètì
First Nation in Northwest Territories, Canada
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Wekweètì (/wɛkˈweɪti/;[6] from the Dogrib language meaning "rock lakes"), officially the Tłı̨chǫ Community Government of Wekweètì[7] 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.[8]
Wekweètì | |
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First Nation | |
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  Wekweètì Location within Northwest Territories  Wekweètì Location within Canada | |
| Coordinates: 64°11′25″N 114°10′58″W | |
| Country | Canada |
| Territory | Northwest Territories |
| Region | North Slave |
| Constituency | Monfwi |
| Permanent community | 1962 |
| Incorporated | 4 August 2005 |
| Government | |
| • Chief | Adeline Football |
| • Community Officer | Fred Behrens |
| • MLA | Jane Weyallon Armstrong |
| Area | |
| • Land | 14.70 km2 (5.68 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 368 m (1,207 ft) |
| Population (2016)[1] | |
• Total | 129 |
| • Density | 8.8/km2 (23/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC−07:00 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−06:00 (MDT) |
| Canadian Postal code | X0E 1W0 |
| Area code | 867 |
| Telephone exchange | 713 |
| - Food price index | 144.8A |
| Sources: Department of Municipal and Community Affairs,[2] Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre,[3] Canada Flight Supplement[4] ^A2015 figure based on Yellowknife = 100[5] | |
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 Behchokǫ̀ 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.
Before 2005, the community was unincorporated, and local governance was provided by a First Nations band government, Dechi Laot'i First Nations. Under the terms of the Tłı̨chǫ Agreement, most responsibilities of Dechi Laot'i have been transferred to a new Wekweètì Community Government. However, Dechi Laot'i is still recognized by the federal government for Indian Act enrollment.
Demographics
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| Sources: NWT Bureau of Statistics (2001 - 2017)[17] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Wekweètì had a population of 109 living in 29 of its 55 total private dwellings, a change of −15.5% from its 2016 population of 129. With a land area of 14.71 km2 (5.68 sq mi), it had a population density of 7.4/km2 (19.2/sq mi) in 2021.[16]
The majority of the population are First Nations and languages are Dogrib and English.[1]
Services
Alexis Arrowmaker School is Wekweètì's Elementary/Junior School and was rebuilt in 1994.[18] The school is named after Alexis Arrowmaker, one of the signers of Treaty 11. The community has a store, Hozila Naedik'e General Store,[19] a ten-bed hotel/lodge, Wekweeti Hotel/Snare Lake Lodge,[20] a health centre, a community learning centre but no Royal Canadian Mounted Police detachment.[21]
Climate
Wekweeti has a subarctic climate (Dfc) with mild to warm summers with cool nights and long, severely cold winters.
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