Introduction

History

Introduction
Sanikiluaq is Nunavut's southernmost community. It is located on the Belcher Islands in southeastern Hudson Bay, about 150 kilometres off the coast of Quebec. Even though it is more than 1,100 kilometres south of the Arctic Circle, the islands are distinctly arctic.
No trees grow here and, except in valleys, only a thin layer of soil covers the ground. The island's peak is 155 metres above sea level; some cliffs rise from 50 to 70 metres. Fly on a clear day into Sanikiluaq via Kuujjuarapik, Quebec, and you'll see the immensity of the Belcher Islands. Spread out over almost 3,000 square kilometres, they consist of about 1,500 islands - many of which are very small - and are the largest group of islands in Hudson Bay. The main group of the archipelago forms an S-shaped pattern whose long, narrow peninsulas are separated by clearly defined channels.

History
Although Sanikiluaq (pronounced san-ee-kil-u-wak) is the only permanent settlement in the Belcher Islands, many Inuit live and camp throughout the archipelago during spring and summer. Sanikiluaq, named after an Inuk who lived in the Belcher Islands, lies on the main group of islands on a narrow piece of land near the north end of Flaherty Island, bound by Eskimo Harbor to the north and by Sanikiluaq Lake to the south.
The Inuit have inhabited the Belcher Islands for centuries. While some ancestors of present-day inhabitants migrated here from northern Quebec, others came when the Thule culture was declining between AD 1200 and 1400. Earlier occupation is shown in the archeological sites of the Dorset culture from 500 BC to AD 1000.
The islands first came to the attention of outsiders after Henry Hudson spotted them in 1610. More than 230 years later, Thomas Wiegand, a servant of the Hudson's Bay Company, led an exploration party from Fort George (Chisasibi, Quebec) to the Belcher Islands. It was another 60 years before Robert Flaherty and his crew became the first qallunaat (white person) to winter here. In 1915, he and his crew survived the winter by using wood from their ship for fuel.
The Inuit survived in the Belcher Islands through their ingenuity. In the late 1800s, when caribou disappeared from the islands (due to icy conditions that made foraging impossible), women began sewing winter parkas from eider duck skins. The men were renowned for their knowledge of ice fields and their dogs were popular trade items during annual trips to mainland posts. The men were respected for their kayaking skills and the
two-person kayaks that they navigated adeptly around the islands and the bay.
A Hudson's Bay Co. trading post, first opened in 1928, operated sporadically until the 1950s. It was relocated from Tukarak Island to Eskimo Harbor in 1961. That same year, the federal government built a school in the southern end of Flaherty Island. During the 1960s two communities existed in the islands: North Camp, where the trading post was located, and South Camp, where the school was built.
The community of Sanikiluaq wasn't established until 1971, when the federal government centralized its services and moved the buildings and inhabitants of South Camp to North Camp. Today, Sanikiluaq is a growing, modern settlement whose economy is based on subsistence hunting, fishing, and soapstone carving.

Arriving at Sanikiluaq

Weather

Wildlife

Weather
Sanikiluaq, anchored in Hudson Bay, has weather that can be blustery and unpredictable. The islands are surrounded by open sea, and high winds and storms can arise suddenly.
Information on daily temperatures and wind conditions can be obtained from the internet or by calling the Airport at 867-266-8824. The Environment Canada weather web site provides the most accurate and up to date information.

Wildlife
Most of the small islands in the archipelago provide breeding grounds for several species of ducks and geese. Rock crevices, lakes and ponds are summer home to many migrating birds. Most of the species that nest in the Belcher Islands or visit here are water birds, including common eider (which stay year round), red-throated loon, common loon, arctic loon, Canada goose, Brant, merganser, black guillemot, Arctic tern and gulls. There are also a few land birds such as rock ptarmigan, rough-legged hawk, peregrine falcon, snowy owl, horned lark, Lapland longspur and snow bunting. Arctic char are found in the rivers, lakes, and offshore waters, while whitefish swim in the lakes. Coastal waters are a source of cod, capelin, lump fish, and sculpin. They are also home to ringed seal, bearded seal, harbor seal, beluga whale, walrus and polar bears.
On the tundra, fox, reindeer, arctic hare, and lemming may be seen. Reindeer were introduced in 1978 about 100 years after the caribou disappeared.

Transportation

Housing

Transportation
Travel in and out of Sanikiluaq is only possible by Air Inuit. The airline travels in and out of the community on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays only. A return ticket from
Sanikiluaq to Montreal is approximately $2000. All flights coming into or leaving Sanikiluaq always stop in Kuujjaarapik, Quebec. You usually have to wait in Kuujjaarapik for a couple of hours. There is a coffee shop just up the road from the airport and many from Sanikiluaq go there while we wait for our connecting flight.
Most people in town get around using a snowmobile in the winter and an ATV in the spring, summer and fall. It is highly recommended to purchase both an ATV and a snowmobile so that you can take full advantage of getting out on the land during all
seasons. The gas station can provide your fuel/gasoline needs at 867-266-8822. Gasoline is 78 cents/L. The gas station is open Monday to Friday from 9 to 5 pm. Housing fuel is delivered by truck during the week but will operate after hours if necessary.
There is a taxi service in town but it is not always running and is not always reliable. The taxi charge is approximately $ 7.00 to the airport and about $ 3.50 to get around town.

Housing
As in most communities in Nunavut housing is in short supply. There are a few government owned houses that can be rented for roughly $1200 to $1400 per month depending on the size of the house. The government houses are in relatively good shape
and are maintained by the Qammag Housing Association. Each government house is furnished and includes your basic appliances (washer, dryer, fridge, stove), but does not include a television, VCR/DVD player, stereo, or microwave oven.
Heating oil for the furnace is included in the monthly rental price but utilities such as electricity, water and sewage removal are extra. These will cost you an additional $150 per month. The contact for housing in Sanikiluaq is Allan Rumbolt; he can be reached at (867) 266-8875. Occasionally, private dwellings are available for rent. Ask your principal if there are any possibilities.

Sealift Arriving

School

School
Currently, Sanikiluaq has a K -12 school (Nuiyak School) which is located at the Western end of the community. As of March 2004, Nuiyak School has a student population of approximately 270 students and has 25 staff members consisting of 2 co-principals, aprogram support teacher, 16 classroom teachers, 2 classroom support assistants, 3 part-time custodians, and an office secretary. You can contact the school by calling 867-266-8817 or by fax at 867-266-8843.
Sanikiluaq has a one room adult education centre run by Nunavut Arctic College. The number is 867-266-8885.

Food

Communications

Postal Service

Power

Medical

Police

Churches

Recreation

Food
The Northern store and the Co-op sell groceries, supplies, clothing, hardware, and electronics. The Co-op also runs a pool hall/canteen at the old hotel. It is open most evenings. There is also the Sanniit Co-operative, which sells furs, eider down, and some traditional clothing. It is open weekdays from 9 to 4 pm or by appointment.
Food costs are very high in Sanikiluaq. Here are some examples of Northern Store prices of some common grocery items:
2 Litre 2% milk............... $ 6.72
1 dozen large eggs ..........$ 3.89
1 lb butter .......................$4.65
1 loaf of bread ................$2.79
2.5 kg. bag of flour .........$8.79
1 can of Coke ..................$1.39
1 case (24 cans) of Coke ......$33.36
1 can Frozen Orange Juice ...$3.25
150 g bag of Humpty Dumpty Potato Chips ......$3.49

The selection of fresh produce is quite limited, so many teacher order food from Metro, a grocery store chain from Quebec. To do this, you fax in an order to the store on Sunday and on Thursday the food arrives by mail on the cargo plane. This can be expensive, as you have to pay postage plus a fee to the store for putting together your food order. For non-perishable food items, many teachers place an order with Marche Turenne (514-637-3231), a sealift company operating out of Montreal. This is usually done in May or June for the following year by filling out a food catalogue order form. It is recommended that, for ordering the basics such as toilet paper, paper towel, laundry detergent, soft drinks, juices, flour, sugar, canned food, a sealift order be placed.

Communications
Northwestel Inc. is the telephone service provider. For a phone
hookup, billing inquiries and product information contact 811 or 1-800--661-0493. A residential line costs $ 35.41 per month. Services, such as long distance savings plan, are available at a cost of $ 25.00 per month.

The community has two radio stations and a community TV channel. Both the radio and TV channels offer information regarding school and community events.

There is a Canada Post office located in the Northern Store. It is open during regular business hours from Monday to Friday. Incoming and outgoing mail happens three times a week: Monday, Wednesday and Friday. All mail is sent in and out by plane. It takes roughly two weeks for letters and three weeks for parcels to arrive at their destination. Express Post service is available, which helps cut down the delivery time by about a
week.

Power
The Nunavut Power Corporation supplies the town with diesel driven electricity. Power service is again well subsidized and fees vary depending on your residence, consumption, and household anywhere from approximately $50 to $150 per month.
Sanikiluaq's power plant manager, David Ford can be reached at (867) 266-8902.

Medical
Doctors, specialists, and dentists visit on a regular basis. The health centre, open weekdays from 8 am to 12 pm and from 1 to 4:30 pm, has 3 registered nurses, a social worker, and a community health representative who treat routine medical problems. Nurses are on call for emergencies, and can be reached by calling the health centre. The health centre number is 266-8965. Patients are flown to Montreal for major medical emergencies or procedures. Your home province health care plan covers three months after you leave your province, therefore you should apply for Nunavut Health Care upon arrival.

Police
There is an RCMP detachment which is staffed by 2 full time RCMP officers. The RCMP can be reached by calling 867 266-1111. The RCMP can be contacted 24 hours a day.

Fire
There is a volunteer fire department in town. In case of an emergency you can call 266-8888. The firefighters can be reached at this number 24 hours a day.

Churches
There is an Anglican Church in town that offers services in Inuktitut on Wednesday evenings and on Sunday mornings. The service is done by local layministers but an ordained minister comes in from Kuujjaarapik about once a month.

Recreation
Many people in Sanikiluaq go out on the land with their ATVs or snowmobiles. The Department of Sustainable Development’s wildlife officer, Jeff Palm can provide you with hunting and fishing licenses. It is best to get the hunting and fishing regulations brochures from that office regarding residency, open seasons, catch limit, and fees.
Sanikiluaq's recreation coordinator, Julie Emikotailuk is officed at the Hamlet Office and can be reached at 266-8996. There are limited recreation opportunities in the community but some evenings from 9 to 11 pm there is volleyball, basketball and floor hockey.
There is also a hockey arena connected to the recreation hall. The arena operates from January to March every year.

Additional Information