Inukjuak, Quebec, a northern village located on Hudson Bay at the mouth of the Innuksuak River in Nunavik, is a place of rich history and cultural significance. With a population of 1,821 as of the 2021 Canadian Census, this Inuit community is a testament to the resilience and spirit of Canada's indigenous peoples.
The name 'Inukjuak' translates to 'The Giant' in English, but its original name was 'Inurjuat', meaning 'many people'. This name originated from a historical event where an Inuk (singular for Inuit) saw many Inuit in kayaks approaching from the river and yelled out to the community "Inurjuat! Inurjuat!". This is how the community got its name.
Inukjuak, Quebec, has a long history of Inuit habitation, as evidenced by the many archeological sites in the area. In the early 20th century, the Révillon Frères company established a fur trading post in Inukjuak, then known as Port Harrison. The Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) set up a competing post in 1920, and the area became the filming location for Robert J. Flaherty's 'Nanook of the North' in 1922.
The HBC bought out Révillon Frères in 1936 and maintained a trade monopoly until 1958. Over the years, an Anglican mission, a post office, a Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) detachment, a nursing station, and a school were established. The Inuit began to transition from their traditional nomadic lifestyle to a more settled existence in the community. Inukjuak was officially established as a municipality in 1980.
However, the history of Inukjuak, Quebec, is not without controversy. In 1953, the Canadian government forcibly relocated some of the area's inhabitants to Resolute and Grise Fiord in the Northwest Territories, now part of Nunavut. This move, initially presented as a humanitarian gesture, was actually a strategic plan to establish a Canadian presence in the High Arctic. The relocation caused significant hardship for the relocated persons and resulted in families being split up.
Despite its cold climate, Inukjuak, Quebec, is not as far north as one might think. It is located on the 58th parallel, closer to the equator than cities like Stockholm, Oslo, Helsinki, and Saint Petersburg. However, due to the cold climate, it is far north of Quebec's provincial centres, Montreal and Quebec City, and lies in the distant wilderness from the majority of Quebec's population.
Inukjuak, Quebec, experiences a polar climate, with a July average of 9.4 °C (48.9 °F) and a February average of −25.8 °C (−14.4 °F). The climate is influenced by the freezing of the shallow Hudson Bay and extremely moderated summers. As a result, Inukjuak has an extremely cold climate for its latitude, especially considering its maritime position.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Inukjuak, Quebec, had a population of 1,821 living in 481 of its 588 total private dwellings. This represented a change of 3.6% from its 2016 population of 1,757. With a land area of 54.92 km2 (21.20 sq mi), it had a population density of 33.2/km2 (85.9/sq mi) in 2021.
Inukjuak, Quebec, is a unique and vibrant community with a rich history and a strong cultural heritage. It is a testament to the resilience and spirit of the Inuit people and a fascinating destination for those interested in Canada's indigenous cultures and northern landscapes.
