Gamèti

Gamètì (/ˈɡæməti/;^[9] formerly known as Rae Lakes until 4 August 2005), officially the Tłı̨chǫ Community Government of Gamètì^[10] is a community in the North Slave Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. Gamètì, according to the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre means "rabbit-net lake".^[6] 'Gah means 'rabbit', and "mi" means net, "tì" means lake, or water. It is one of the four Tłı̨chǫ communities which form part of the Tlicho Government.^[11]

Gamètì Rae Lakes
Tłı̨chǫ Community Government
Gamètì Show map of Northwest Territories Gamètì Show map of Canada
Coordinates: 64°06′44″N 117°21′13″W
Country	Canada
Territory	Northwest Territories
Region	North Slave Region
Constituency	Monfwi
Census division	Region 3
Incorporated	4 August 2005
Government
• Senior Administrative Officer / Chief Administrative Officer[1][circular reference]	Richard Leong[2]
• Mayor / Chief	Doreen Arrowmaker
• MLA	vacant
Area [3]
• Land	9.19 km2 (3.55 sq mi)
Elevation	220 m (720 ft)
Population  (2016)[3]
• Total	278
• Density	30.3/km2 (78/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC−07:00 (MST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−06:00 (MDT)
Canadian Postal code	X0E 1R0
Area code	867
Telephone exchange	997[4]
- Living cost	152.5A
- Food price index	123.3B
Sources: Department of Municipal and Community Affairs,[5] Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre,[6] Canada Flight Supplement[7] ^A 2013 figure based on Edmonton = 100[8] ^B 2015 figure based on Yellowknife = 100[8]

History

The area is within the traditional territory of the Tłı̨chǫ (Dogrib) First Nations 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. Gamètì 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 officially known as Rae Lakes until August 4, 2005.

Before 2005, the community was unincorporated, and local governance was provided by a First Nations band government, Gameti First Nation. Under the terms of the Tłı̨chǫ Agreement, most responsibilities of Gamètì have been transferred to a new Gamètì Community Government. However, the First Nation is still recognized by the federal government for Indian Act enrollment.

Demographics

Federal census population history of Gamètì

Year	Pop.	±%
1976	164	—
1981	200	+22.0%
1986	183	−8.5%
1991	252	+37.7%
1996	256	+1.6%
2001	274	+7.0%
2006	283	+3.3%
2011	253	−10.6%
2016	278	+9.9%
2021	252	−9.4%
Source: Statistics Canada [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][3][19]

Annual population estimates

Year Pop. ±% 1996 263 —     1997 273 +3.8% 1998 290 +6.2% 1999 285 −1.7% 2000 289 +1.4% 2001 291 +0.7% 2002 293 +0.7% 2003 300 +2.4% 2004 288 −4.0% 2005 292 +1.4% 2006 288 −1.4%	Year Pop. ±% 2007 289 +0.3% 2008 277 −4.2% 2009 255 −7.9% 2010 258 +1.2% 2011 263 +1.9% 2012 274 +4.2% 2013 283 +3.3% 2014 293 +3.5% 2015 287 −2.0% 2016 288 +0.3% 2017 291 +1.0%
Sources: NWT Bureau of Statistics (2001 - 2017)[20]

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Gamètì had a population of 252 living in 82 of its 104 total private dwellings, a change of -9.4% from its 2016 population of 278. With a land area of 9.04 km² (3.49 sq mi), it had a population density of 27.9/km² (72.2/sq mi) in 2021.^[19]

According to the 2016 Census there were 270 Indigenous people, of which all were First Nations. Local languages are Dogrib (Tłı̨chǫ) some Slavey and English.

Services

The community, which is served by the Gamètì/Rae Lakes Airport, does not have all-weather road access, but an ice road is sometimes built in the winter. There is a daycare in the Gamètì and the Jean Wetrade School that provides education up to grade 12, along with a community learning centre. Other services include a post office, a two-member RCMP detachment, a health centre, with one nurse and the Rae Lakes General Store.^[21]

Climate

Gamètì has a subarctic climate^[22] (Dfc) with the average high throughout the year averaging below the freezing point. Due to it being below the tree line it has relatively warm but short summers.

Climate data for Gamèti (Rae Lakes) Climate ID: 2203359; coordinates 64°06′43″N 117°19′41″W; elevation: 223.2 m (732 ft); 1981-2010 normals
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high humidex	−1.1	−1.8	8.1	19.1	26.7	33.9	36.4	31.9	26.2	17.8	3.3	1.4	36.4
Record high °C (°F)	−0.8 (30.6)	−1.4 (29.5)	9.4 (48.9)	19.2 (66.6)	26.7 (80.1)	32.6 (90.7)	32.0 (89.6)	31.7 (89.1)	23.6 (74.5)	18.3 (64.9)	5.0 (41.0)	1.7 (35.1)	32.6 (90.7)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	−22.7 (−8.9)	−18.3 (−0.9)	−11.4 (11.5)	1.3 (34.3)	8.9 (48.0)	17.9 (64.2)	21.5 (70.7)	17.1 (62.8)	10.1 (50.2)	−0.2 (31.6)	−11.0 (12.2)	−17.1 (1.2)	−0.3 (31.5)
Daily mean °C (°F)	−27.1 (−16.8)	−23.6 (−10.5)	−18.5 (−1.3)	−5.9 (21.4)	3.4 (38.1)	12.9 (55.2)	16.8 (62.2)	13.2 (55.8)	7.0 (44.6)	−2.7 (27.1)	−14.5 (5.9)	−21.5 (−6.7)	−5.0 (23.0)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	−31.5 (−24.7)	−28.9 (−20.0)	−25.4 (−13.7)	−13.1 (8.4)	−2.2 (28.0)	7.9 (46.2)	12.2 (54.0)	9.2 (48.6)	3.8 (38.8)	−5.2 (22.6)	−18.1 (−0.6)	−25.9 (−14.6)	−9.8 (14.4)
Record low °C (°F)	−51.5 (−60.7)	−47.8 (−54.0)	−46.6 (−51.9)	−35.5 (−31.9)	−22.3 (−8.1)	−1.0 (30.2)	−0.1 (31.8)	−1.0 (30.2)	−7.7 (18.1)	−28.1 (−18.6)	−41.3 (−42.3)	−47.1 (−52.8)	−51.5 (−60.7)
Record low wind chill	−53.6	−60.4	−51.5	−43.3	−30.7	−6.1	0.0	0.0	−13.4	−33.3	−45.4	−53.0	−60.4
Average relative humidity (%) (at 1500 LST)	73.2	72.3	60.5	54.0	50.4	45.7	49.6	59.8	69.6	79.5	84.3	80.9	65.0
Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada[23]

See also

• List of municipalities in the Northwest Territories