Akulivik

Akulivik ᐊᑯᓕᕕᒃ
Northern village municipality
Akulivik
Coordinates: 60°48′N 78°12′W / 60.800°N 78.200°W / 60.800; -78.200Coordinates: 60°48′N 78°12′W / 60.800°N 78.200°W / 60.800; -78.200[1]
Country	Canada
Province	Quebec
Region	Nord-du-Québec
TE	Kativik
Constituted	December 29, 1979
Government[2]
• Mayor	Adamie Alayco
• Federal riding	Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou
• Prov. riding	Ungava
Area[2][3]
• Total	82.60 km2 (31.89 sq mi)
• Land	76.87 km2 (29.68 sq mi)
Population (2011)[3]
• Total	615
• Density	8.0/km2 (21/sq mi)
• Change (2006–11)	21.3%
• Dwellings	148
Time zone	EST (UTC−5)
• Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC−4)
Postal code(s)	J0M 1V0
Area code(s)	819
Website	www.nvakulivik.ca

Akulivik (Inuktitut: ᐊᑯᓕᕕᒃ) (2011 population 615) is an Inuit village in Nunavik, in northern Quebec, Canada. It is located on a peninsula that juts southwesterly into Hudson Bay across from Smith Island (Qikirtajuaq). Akulivik is on the 60th parallel north, 1,850 km north of Montreal.

Akulivik, meaning "central prong of a kakivak" in the Nunavik dialect of Inuktitut, takes its name from the surrounding geography. Located on a peninsula between two bays, the area evokes the shape of a kakivak, a traditional, trident-shaped spear used for fishing.

Inaccessible by road, Akulivik is served by the small Akulivik Airport - AKV.

Despite being isolated by long distances of treeless tundra, Akulivik is nonetheless a comparatively modern Inuit village. The Tukisiniarvik School has 167 students in classes from Kindergarten to Secondary V (Grade 11).^[4] Inuktitut remains the dominant language of the community. As in all the communities of Nunavik, Inuktitut is also the language of instruction at until grade 3, at which point students choose between English or French as the language of instruction, and continue to study Inuktitut language and Inuit culture as separate subjects.^[5]

Ice starts to form in late September and stays ‘till late July when the bay becomes navigable. Large items are delivered by ship, including in part, building supplies, snowmobiles and gasoline for them, and a year’s supply of diesel fuel for the town generator. Thrice-weekly air service brings cargo including food and services to Akulivik. Telephone and internet are furnished by satellite. There is no hospital, but a clinic staffed by nurses provides non-critical care; otherwise air ambulances are available. There is a police presence.

History

Akulivik was incorporated as a community in 1976. The Inuit have lived in the area for thousands of years. In 1610, the explorer Henry Hudson passed by the island of Qikirtajuaq near present-day Akulivik.

In 1922, the Hudson's Bay Company established a trading post on the site of today's settlement. The outpost was moved to the island of Qikirtajuaq in 1926. Between 1922 and 1955, the area where Akulivik is located today was the summer camp of Inuit who congregated around the trading post. In 1952, the post was closed, forcing the families to move to Puvirnituq, 100 km to the south.

In 1973, one family moved back to the area. The following year, many others followed and, together, they built the village of Akulivik.

Further reading

External links

• Website of the village of Akulivik
• Demographic and other information from the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
• Akulivik, Quebec's population info

References