…Coral Harbour…Awaits

Coral Harbour almost halfway to the Nunavut's Capital 'Iqaluit'

Before you think you are heading to the sunny south…let me warn you. The thoughts of waving palms give way to harsher realities. The hamlet of Coral Harbor, Nunavut is unlike anything that resembles the tropics. The community is one of two, that we service, located on an island. The name of the settlement in INUTITUT is called “Salliiq” which means “large flat island(s) in front of the mainland” and is surrounded by fossilized coral in the surrounding waters. It can refer to all inhabitants from the island.

Coral Harbour is home to almost 850 inhabitants. With an FM

station (101.9 on the dial), up to date communication is available for the residents. The hamlet council, like all the other communities, is responsible for garbage, water delivery and sewage pump outs. Costs are offset by federal funds distributed by territorial disbursement.

 

The original population was wiped out by Scottish whalers in the early 1900's bringing typhus, a disease from which, the locals had no protection. Only one woman and two children were removed alive before being transferred out. The woman later died. In 1925, the Hudson's Bay Company established a trading post at the present site of Coral Harbour by combining secondary posts from Chesterfield Inlet and Coats Island. The traders brought with them Inuit from Baffin Island, northern Quebec and Keewatin to repopulate the area.

Every 'QUAD' is known as a Honda,
in Rankin Inlet, and throughout Nunavut

The entire area of Southhampton Island is about the same size as Switzerland but getting around the island can be easy enough. Dog Sled, snow machine, and Hondas are used the most. Honda is a “term” used in Nunavut describing those four wheeled “quad” ATV’s that you see scurrying about here. To us southerners, we would use the term ‘quads’…while the locals use the term ‘honda’ no matter who the manufacturer really is.

Of course, as an island you have your choice of arrival: by boat for some of the year or by plane all year round. The airport (YZS) is almost 16 kilometers (11 plus miles) from the town so again having someone meet your plane has its advantages. It can be a long, cold, and sometimes dark walk. The runway is 5,000 feet (1526Meters) and gravel based. Most of the smaller runways in communities in Nunavut are made of gravel, a point that I failed to make a few times now.

Three airlines service the area. Both, Calm Air and First Air but also KIVALLIQ AIR which services many of the communities, mostly for cargo. Those goods not arriving by container ship or barge from Churchill, Manitoba or from Montreal, have to be shipped in by air…a vital link that I cannot stress enough in these blogs.

The Coral Harbour INUKSHUK, the stone here is different.

A little known fact is that just outside Coral Harbour, an American military air base was built in 1941 as a staging point for aircraft being ferried to Europe during World War II. The site later became a military training area, then a weather observation point, before becoming the current municipal airport.

Coral Harbour is one of the best places in Nunavut to see marine wildlife. The nearby Coats Island is a resting place for walruses. The East Bay Migratory Bird Sanctuary and the Harry Gibbons Bird Sanctuary are a must for bird watchers. Snow geese, Tundra swans, Sandhill cranes and other species migrate to the area in the spring.

Despite the harsh climate there is plentiful wildlife around the island. Among some of the species found there are walruses, polar bears, barren-ground caribou, ringed seals, gyrfalcons, and (rarely) peregrine falcons.

Coral Harbour is the home to many artisans who work their wonder in ivory, whalebone, duffle, print, soapstone and seal skin. Here, people are able to enjoy the traditional as well as modern livelihoods.

The beauty of the area awaits your presence. Just remember, on this island time stands still...you don't fall back...and this week they didn't spring ahead. If you take up residence, in C.H., you won't have to change your clocks,...since there is “No daylight saving time” in this harbour !