Sachs Harbour, or Ikaahuk in Inuinnaqtun, is a quaint hamlet nestled in the Inuvik Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. This unique settlement, the only permanent one on Banks Island, is situated on the southwestern coast within the Inuvialuit Settlement Region. As of the 2021 census, Sachs Harbour is home to a close-knit community of 104 residents.
The hamlet of Sachs Harbour derives its name from the ship Mary Sachs, a part of the Canadian Arctic Expedition from 1913 to 1916. The traditional Inuinnaqtun name for the area, Ikaahuk, translates to "place where one crosses".
The history of Sachs Harbour is rich and fascinating. Archaeological sites dating back to 1500 BCE, belonging to the Pre-Dorset culture, have been discovered on the island. These sites were later replaced by cultures exhibiting Eastern and Western Arctic Dorset characteristics.
The island was first sighted in 1820 by Sir William Edward Parry and named "Banks Land" in honour of Sir Joseph Banks. The settlement's roots trace back to 1929 when several Inuit families relocated to the area for trapping. It was officially incorporated as a hamlet in 1986.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Sachs Harbour had a population of 104 living in 38 of its 52 total private dwellings. The two principal languages spoken in the town are Inuinnaqtun (Inuvialuktun) and English.
Sachs Harbour boasts a two-member Royal Canadian Mounted Police detachment and a health centre with a resident nurse. Phone services are provided by Northwestel, and internet access is available. The local hunters and trappers association offers outfitting for big-game hunts like muskox and polar bears.
Sachs Harbour is located in the Arctic tundra climatic zone, characterized by long, cold winters. The residents, many of whom are involved in fishing, hunting, and travel, have extensive knowledge of weather conditions, permafrost, and erosion patterns.
Banks Island, home to Sachs Harbour, is a wildlife haven. It hosts the largest goose colony in North America and three-quarters of the world's muskoxen population. Barren-ground caribou and polar bears are also common sights. In 2006, the world's first documented wild-born grizzly–polar bear hybrid was spotted near the town.
Climate change has brought about shifts in the local ecosystem. Seals, a primary food source for the town, have been migrating farther south due to earlier sea ice breakups. New species of birds, including robins and barn swallows, have started migrating to the island, and there has been an increase in flies and mosquitoes.
