Whatì

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.

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 to the current spelling. Other traditional Tłı̨chǫ names for the settlement include Tsoti ('fouled water lake') and Mine Go Kola ('net fishing with houses').

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

|1976|213 |1981|268 |1986|345 |1991|392 |1996|418 |2001|453 |2006|460 |2011|492 |2016|470 |2021|543

|2001|491 |2002|486 |2003|481 |2004|490 |2005|491 |2006|480 |2007|491 |2008|480 |2009|488 |2010|494 |2011|490 |2012|507 |2013|505 |2014|513 |2015|533 |2016|529 |2017|522

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Whatì had a population of living in of its total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of . With a land area of 58.33 km2, it had a population density of in 2021.

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.

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.

Infrastructure

Transport

Whatì Airport connects the community by air to the territorial capital Yellowknife.

Whatì is connected to the territorial road network by the Tłı̨chǫ Highway (Northwest Territories Highway 9), an all-season gravel road running from the community to the Yellowknife Highway (Northwest Territories Highway 3). The only road access to Whatì prior to the Tłı̨chǫ Highway opening in 2021 was via winter road.

Communications

Telephone service was introduced to Whati in 1982.

Climate

Whatì has a subarctic climate (Köppen: Dfc; Trewartha: Ecld) with mild to warm summers and long cold winters.

WMO ID: 71163; Climate ID: 2202678; coordinates ; elevation: 271.3 m; 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1974–present |Jan record high C = 4.1 |Feb record high C = 7.0 |Mar record high C = 13.1 |Apr record high C = 19.6 |May record high C = 29.1 |Jun record high C = 33.6 |Jul record high C = 33.7 |Aug record high C = 34.4 |Sep record high C = 30.9 |Oct record high C = 18.0 |Nov record high C = 5.6 |Dec record high C = 6.3 |year record high C = 34.4 |Jan record low C = -48.4 |Feb record low C = -47.4 |Mar record low C = -46.3 |Apr record low C = -41.6 |May record low C = -24.4 |Jun record low C = -5.1 |Jul record low C = -2.0 |Aug record low C = -3.3 |Sep record low C = -9.5 |Oct record low C = -32.4 |Nov record low C = -39.8 |Dec record low C = -46.1 |year record low C = -48.4 |access-date = 2024-11-14 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20241114210521/https://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_1991_2020_e.html?searchType=stnProv&lstProvince=NT&txtCentralLatMin=0&txtCentralLatSec=0&txtCentralLongMin=0&txtCentralLongSec=0&stnID=417000000&dispBack=0 |archive-date = 2024-11-14 |url-status=live}}

References

References

1. {{MACANT. whati. Whatì. 2014-01-29
2. "Northwest Territories Official Community Names and Pronunciation Guide". Education, Culture and Employment, Government of the Northwest Territories.
3. {{CFS
4. [https://www.statsnwt.ca/community-data/Profile-PDF/Whati.pdf Whatì - Statistical Profile] at the GNWT
5. (2003). "Tłı̨chǫ Agreement". Queen's Printer for Canada.
6. "Differences in Community Government Structures".
7. ''Free Traders in Northland Start Again'', The Edmonton Bulletin, May 6, 1922
8. (May 1992). "1981 Census of Canada: Census subdivisions in decreasing population order". [[Statistics Canada]].
9. (September 1987). "1986 Census: Population - Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions". [[Statistics Canada]].
10. (April 1992). "91 Census: Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions - Population and Dwelling Counts". [[Statistics Canada]].
11. (April 1997). "96 Census: A National Overview - Population and Dwelling Counts". [[Statistics Canada]].
12. (August 15, 2012). "Population and Dwelling Counts, for Canada, Provinces and Territories, and Census Subdivisions (Municipalities), 2001 and 1996 Censuses - 100% Data (Northwest Territories)". [[Statistics Canada]].
13. (August 20, 2021). "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2006 and 2001 censuses - 100% data (Northwest Territories)". [[Statistics Canada]].
14. (July 25, 2021). "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2011 and 2006 censuses (Northwest Territories)". [[Statistics Canada]].
15. (February 8, 2017). "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Northwest Territories)". [[Statistics Canada]].
16. [https://www.statsnwt.ca/population/population-estimates/commtotals_2001-2017.xlsx Population Estimates By Community] from the GNWT
17. (February 9, 2022). "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), Northwest Territories". [[Statistics Canada]].
18. [http://www.tlicho.ca/community/whati Whatì] at the Tlicho Government
19. (October 23, 2019). "Work begins on 97-km all-season road in N.W.T.".
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]].