Arviat ᐊᕐᕕᐊᑦ
—  Hamlet  —
Two of the churches in Arviat
Arviat
Coordinates: 61°06′29″N 094°03′25″W / 61.10806°N 94.05694°W / 61.10806; -94.05694Coordinates: 61°06′29″N 094°03′25″W / 61.10806°N 94.05694°W / 61.10806; -94.05694
Country	Canada
Territory	Nunavut
Region	Kivalliq Region
Electoral district	Arviat
Government[1][2]
• Type	Hamlet
• Mayor	Robert (Bob) Leonard
• Senior Administrative Officer	Ed Murphy
• MLAs	Daniel Shewchuk
Area[3][4]
• Total	132.07 km2 (50.99 sq mi)
• Population Centre	0.74 km2 (0.29 sq mi)
Elevation[5]	10 m (30 ft)
Population (2011)[3][4]
• Total	2,318
• Density	18/km2 (45/sq mi)
• Population Centre	1,810
• Population Centre Density	2,400/km2 (6,300/sq mi)
Demonym	Arviaqmiut,[6] Arviatmiut[7]
Time zone	CST (UTC-5)
• Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-4)
Postal code	X0C 0E0
Area code(s)	867
Website	www.arviat.ca

Arviat (2011 population 2,318;^[3] Population Centre 1,810^[4]) (Inuktitut syllabics: ᐊᕐᕕᐊᑦ; formerly called Eskimo Point until 1 June 1989) is a predominantly Inuit hamlet located on the western shore of Hudson Bay in the Kivalliq Region of Nunavut, Canada. Arviat ("place of the bowhead whale") is derived from the Inuktitut word arviq meaning "Bowhead Whale". Earlier in history, its name was Tikirajualaaq ("a little long point"), and Ittaliurvik, ("a place where the people make tents").^[8]

Inuit community [link]

Arviat is the southernmost community on the Nunavut mainland and is close to the geographical centre of Canada. In Arviat, Inuktitut and English are primarily spoken, having the third largest population in Nunavut, behind Rankin Inlet and Iqaluit. From the 2006 census to the 2011 census there was a population increase of 12.5%.^[3] The mayor of Arviat is Robert Leonard.^[9]

Elder of Arviat

Hunting and fishing are very active in the community; they are the primary source of sustenance. Three local stores - Padlei Co-op, Northern Stores and EPLS - carry a wide range of products.

To the south, the town of Churchill, Manitoba is accessible by boat, snowmobile and Bombardier from Arviat and is often travelled to for supplies.

Arviat is well known around the Arctic for its artistic qualities. It is a thriving community with many talented musicians: Susan Aglukark, a well known musician; Simon "Johnny Cash of the North" Sigyariaq; the band Uniaqtuq, with Arsene, Pelagie and Mary Angalik; the Arviat Band, with John and Billy Kuksuk, Paul Kattau and others; the Irksuk band, played by Paul Irksuk and sons. All have had CDs recorded commercially.

Many types of wildlife are abundant. Within the vicinity of Arviat, polar bears, millions of migratory birds, beluga whales, and caribou are often spotted.

The only access is by air and snowmobile, but the Nunavut government and the federal Senate member for Nunavut, Dennis Patterson, are investigating the possibility of a highway from Thompson, Lynn Lake, or Gillam to Rankin Inlet, through Arviat. Like other Arctic coast communities there is an annual sealift but it is not available to passengers.

Arviat was originally inhabited by the Paallirmiut, a coastal/inland Inuit band. In 1957, dying of starvation, the last remaining Ihalmiut, another Caribou Inuit band, were relocated to Arviat by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Though there are differences between the two bands, they recognize a need to work together in order to benefit the community.^[10]

Recreation [link]

The Hudson Bay Quest sled-dog race was run from Churchill to Arviat for the first time in 2004.

See also [link]

References [link]

Further reading [link]

External links [link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Arviat

• Official site
• Arviat Tourism
• Government of Nunavut - Arviat (PDF)

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