Country Canada Monfwi Mackenzie Delta Incorporated 4 August 2005 Elevation 368 m Population 141 (2011) Permanent community 1962 Territory Northwest Territories | Region North Slave Region Census division Region 3 Time zone Mountain (MST) (UTC−7) Area 14.67 km² Canadian Postal code X0E 1W0 Area code 867 | |
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Wekweètì (from the Dogrib language meaning "rock lakes"), officially the Tlicho Community Government of Wekweètì is a community in the North Slave Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada.
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Map of Wekwe%C3%A8t%C3%AC, NT, 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.
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. 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.
Services
Alexis Arrowmaker School is Wekweètì's Elementary/Junior School and was rebuilt in 1994. The school is named after Alexis Arrowmaker one of the signers of Treaty 11. The community has a store, Hozila Naedik'e General Store, a ten bed hotel/lodge, Wekweeti Hotel/Snare Lake Lodge, a Health Station, a Community Learning Centre but no RCMP detachment.