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 Show map of Northwest Territories Whatì Show map of Canada
Coordinates: 63°08′40″N 117°16′22″W
Country	Canada
Territory	Northwest Territories
Region	North Slave
Constituency	Monfwi
North West Company trading post	1793
Incorporated	August 4, 2005
Government
• Chief	Alfonz Nitsiza
• Senior Administrative Officer	Lisa Nitsiza
• MLA	Jackson Lafferty
Area [1]
• Land	59.95 km2 (23.15 sq mi)
Elevation	269 m (883 ft)
Population  (2016)[1]
• Total	470
• Density	7.8/km2 (20/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC−07:00 (MST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−06:00 (MDT)
Canadian Postal code	X0E 1P0
Area code	867
Telephone exchange	573
- Living cost	152.5A
- Food price index	145.7B
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 January 1, 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 August 4, 2005^[3] to the current spelling. Other traditional Tłı̨chǫ names for the settlement include Tsoti^{[pronunciation?]} ('fouled water lake') and Mine Go Kola^{[pronunciation?]} ('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

Federal census population history of Whati

Year	Pop.	±%
1976	213	—
1981	268	+25.8%
1986	345	+28.7%
1991	392	+13.6%
1996	418	+6.6%
2001	453	+8.4%
2006	460	+1.5%
2011	492	+7.0%
2016	470	−4.5%
2021	543	+15.5%
Source: Statistics Canada [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][1][16]

Annual population estimates

Year Pop. ±% 2001 491 —     2002 486 −1.0% 2003 481 −1.0% 2004 490 +1.9% 2005 491 +0.2% 2006 480 −2.2% 2007 491 +2.3% 2008 480 −2.2% 2009 488 +1.7%	Year Pop. ±% 2010 494 +1.2% 2011 490 −0.8% 2012 507 +3.5% 2013 505 −0.4% 2014 513 +1.6% 2015 533 +3.9% 2016 529 −0.8% 2017 522 −1.3%
Sources: NWT Bureau of Statistics (2001 - 2017)[17]

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Whatì had a population of 543 living in 143 of its 162 total private dwellings, a change of 15.5% from its 2016 population of 470. With a land area of 58.33 km² (22.52 sq mi), it had a population density of 9.3/km² (24.1/sq mi) in 2021.^[16]

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]

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.^[18]

Infrastructure

Transport

Previously, Whatì was accessible from the rest of Canada by the Whatì Airport and a winter road. Construction of the Tłı̨chǫ Highway, connecting the community to the Yellowknife Highway, began in 2019 and the road was opened in November 2021.^[19][20]

Communications

Telephone service was introduced to Whati in 1982.

Climate

Whatì has a subarctic climate (Dfc) with mild to warm summers and long cold winters.

Whatì Climate chart (explanation) J F M A M J J A S O N D     0     −25 −25     0     −24 −25     0     −13 −20     0     −2 −9     0     18 4     0     22 11     0     20 9     0     18 7     0     8 2     0     −4 −9     0     −16 −19     0     −21 −23 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm Source: [21] Note: rainfall data was unavailable Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     0     −13 −13     0     −11 −13     0     9 −4     0     28 16     0     64 39     0     72 52     0     68 48     0     64 45     0     46 36     0     25 16     0     3 −2     0     −6 −9 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches

See also

• List of municipalities in the Northwest Territories
• Whatì Airport
• Whatì Water Aerodrome

References

1. "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Northwest Territories)". Statistics Canada. February 8, 2017. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
2. "NWT Communities - Whatì". Government of the Northwest Territories: Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. Retrieved January 29, 2014.
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 January 13, 2016. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
4. Canada Flight Supplement. Effective 0901Z 16 July 2020 to 0901Z 10 September 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" (PDF).
8. Free Traders in Northland Start Again, The Edmonton Bulletin, May 6, 1922
9. "1981 Census of Canada: Census subdivisions in decreasing population order" (PDF). Statistics Canada. May 1992. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
10. "1986 Census: Population - Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions" (PDF). Statistics Canada. September 1987. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
11. "91 Census: Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions - Population and Dwelling Counts" (PDF). Statistics Canada. April 1992. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
12. "96 Census: A National Overview - Population and Dwelling Counts" (PDF). Statistics Canada. April 1997. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
13. "Population and Dwelling Counts, for Canada, Provinces and Territories, and Census Subdivisions (Municipalities), 2001 and 1996 Censuses - 100% Data (Northwest Territories)". Statistics Canada. August 15, 2012. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
14. "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2006 and 2001 censuses - 100% data (Northwest Territories)". Statistics Canada. August 20, 2021. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
15. "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2011 and 2006 censuses (Northwest Territories)". Statistics Canada. July 25, 2021. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
16. "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), Northwest Territories". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
17. Population Estimates By Community from the GNWT
18. Whatì at the Tlicho Government
19. "Work begins on 97-km all-season road in N.W.T." canada.constructconnect.com. October 23, 2019. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
20. Van Dusen, John (November 30, 2021). "'The opportunities are endless': Tłı̨chǫ Highway opens, marking a new chapter for Whatì, N.W.T." CBC News. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
21. "NASA Earth Observations Data Set Index". NASA. Archived from the original on May 11, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2016.

External links

• Media related to Whatì at Wikimedia Commons
• Official website