REGION
Nunavik is the name of the Inuit region of Northern Quebec that stretches from Labrador to the east coast of Hudson Bay, and that was once known as Nouveau-Québec. Nunavik -- an Inuit word which means “the place where we live” -- is a vast territory covering 505,000 square kilometres, or one-third of Quebec’s landmass. The area has been inhabited for some 4,000 years, most recently by the Inuit and their direct ancestors, the Thule people. Kuujjuaq, the largest community in Nunavik with a population of 2,100, is the administrative headquarters.
While the Nunavimmiut await the conclusion of negotiations for the proposed Nunavik Regional Government, Makivik Corporation continues to represent Quebec Inuit in dealings with the governments of Quebec and Canada, and to manage the region’s funding, as laid out by the terms of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement. Makivik works to provide more autonomy for the region, especially in connection with preserving the ancestral rights of the Inuit.
Nunavik is a veritable natural treasure-house. The Inuit way of life has been shaped by the region’s wildlife, the tundra and mountains, boreal forests and innumerable lake and rivers, as well as its abundant coastal waters. But the only way to visit this magnificent corner of the country is by airplane, because there are no roads leading to Nunavik! In fact, there are not even any roads connecting the various communities, and maritime transport is possible only in the summer and fall.
But that does not mean you cannot learn about the countryside and its people through pictures, history and legends!
© 2010 Avataq Cultural Institute