Gameti is starting to roll out a five-year plan to make the community more self-sufficient and sustainable. Here, Germaine Eyakfwo, left, Jimmy Arrowmaker, Henry Gon, Sudhir Jha (MACA), Alfred Arrowmaker, Chief David Wedawin, Jimmy B. Mantla, Gary Bekale and SAO Judal Dominicata show off the new maintenance shop and multipurpose facility. - photo courtesy of Judal Dominicata

GAMETI/RAE LAKES
When it was reported that the tiny hamlet of Gameti was cultivating the largest community garden in the territory this summer, the project's brainchild, SAO Judal Dominicata, said he was inundated with positive feedback from community's leaders and government officials.

Infrastructure improvements in Gameti this year: Community garden - $35,000 New water truck - $200,000 Sewer truck - $140,000 Garbage truck - $100,000 Maintenance shop and multipurpose facility - $400,000 New sewage lagoon and dump site - $80,000 Golf course improvement - $40,000 Source: Judal Dominicata, Gameti SAO

As proud as Dominicata is of the achievement, he said the garden is just the tip of the iceberg.

Although Dominicata has only been on the job for eight months, he has led the push to turn Gameti into a vibrant, self-sufficient community. Earlier this year, he began that process by submitting a five-year plan to improve everything from health and education to recreation and public safety in the fly-in Tlicho community. After approval from chief and council, it was sent off to the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA).

According to Sudhir Jha, manager of community, infrastructure, and planning for the North Slave region, Gameti received a total of $947,000 from the gas tax fund and community public infrastructure fund this year.

That GNWT funding will be used for much-needed infrastructure upgrades in the community.

Gameti also recently built a new 2,400-square-foot fire hall with money from the federal government's Building Canada Plan.

While all municipalities receive gas tax and community infrastructure funding, Jha said each community is responsible for submitting their own capital plans to the GNWT - something which has been happening ever since the territorial government rolled out its community public infrastructure policy in 2007.

All North Slave communities are coming up with good plans, but Gameti and Whati's have been particularly impressive, said Jha.

"Judal and Larry (Baran) from Whati are being more proactive because they have more experience from their past," he said.

Dominicata, who has a masters of science in agriculture, agronomy and crop science and a doctorate in education, is originally from the Philippines but has lived in the North for 10 years. He said one of the first things he did when he became SAO was conduct a survey asking residents what improvements they would like to see in the community. He then drafted his plan based on their input.

"They have been asking for these programs and developments themselves," he said.

Chief David Wedawin, who ran his election campaign on a platform of bolstering Gameti's infrastructure, said having Dominicata's expertise and drive at the disposal of council has been a huge boon.

"Since he climbed on board everything has just been kind of flying," he said.

The recently completed maintenance shop and multipurpose facility is the project that will have the biggest community impact, said Dominicata. With 5,015 square feet of space and combined capacity of 25 people, the two facilities will be used to teach trades including electrical work, carpentry and plumbing. The courses will be taught by instructors provided through partnerships with Aurora College, as well as the Tlicho government.

"If you want to improve yourself, if you would like to improve your life, there is only one way: education, education, education, education," he said.

By being able to stay in the community and be with their families, Dominicata said apprentices will be more likely to contribute to the local economy.

"This project will be the heart of development in Gameti," he said.

Dominicata said he looks forward to working with Gameti's council and MACA to implement the next part of the hamlet's five-year plan.

"This is a holistic approach, everyone is working towards it," he said.

Next steps include a better police presence in the community, improved recreational opportunities for children and youth and protecting local wildlife and its habitat.

"With (Dominicata's) effort and chief and council's effort we're just going to keep moving on," said Wedawin.

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