Just call it...Sani…

Sanikiluaq across the 'Bay'

…most of the Inuks do. The full name is Sanikiluaq. It is the last of the “communities we serve” and is in a completely different time zone. In fact, they are currently on Eastern Daylight Saving time while we here in Rankin Inlet are on Central Daylight Saving time since early Sunday morning when we switched our clocks forward.

Being the southernmost community in all of Nunavut, it is only 150 kilometers (93 miles) from the shores of NUNAVIK, Quebec. Not only is the community the most southernly, it is also the most easterly of the Kivalliq region of NUNAVUT located on the north coast of Flaherty Island in Hudson Bay.

It is still the arctic there, as no trees grow and temperatures are often very cold and accompanied by strong winds. Located in the heart of Hudson Bay in the Belcher Islands, Sanikiluaq is an Inuit community of some 850 residents. It is the only permanent settlement in this entire archipelago, which is a group of 1,500 islands spread over 3,000 square kilometres (1,158 square miles). 

The Hamlet's Crest

The hamlet is named after a legendary Inuk person who once lived here named Sandy Kiluaq. He was an adopted boy who lived in hard times and grew up to become the best hunter and best provider in the region, a hero to his community, so they named it after him. 'Home of Sandy Kiluaq'.

The terrain near Sanikiluaq is composed of numerous rocky cliffs that tower to 155 metres (509 feet) above sea level. Many of the smaller islands provide special breeding grounds for numerous species of migratory seabirds, ducks and geese. The coastal waters contain an abundance of seals, walruses and beluga whales. Expert hunting and fishing is a traditional lifestyle here, as is sea kayaking and soapstone carving.

The famous water truck supplying most hamlets in KIVALLIQ

Thomas Wiegand of the Hudson Bay Company led an exploration party from Fort George, Québec (Chisasibi Cree Nation) to the Belcher Islands in the 1840s, but he did not stay the winter. When caribou disappeared from the islands in the late 1800s, the women started sewing winter parkas from eider duck skins. The men expanded their knowledge of the ice fields, earning great respect for their kayaking skills.

Robert Joseph Flaherty and his crew arrived here on a prospecting expedition in 1913. They were the first 'qallunaat' ('people with low bushy eyebrows' — white people, in Inuktitut) to winter here. Flaherty brought along a movie camera and later he became famous for his documentary film titled 'Nanook of the North' (1922). The island is, of course, named after him.

The fine art of Sanikiluaq

Grass Basket Craftwork

The Government of Canada founded two settlements here in 1960: North Camp and South Camp.

5" Black Basking Walrus by Johnny Appaqaq - Inuit Carver

The community of Sanikiluaq was created in 1971 when the federal government consolidated its services and relocated all the buildings and inhabitants of the southern settlement into the northern one. The economy is largely based on subsistence hunting, fishing, plus arts and crafts.

The indigenous ancestors of the local Inuit people inhabited this area for many centuries. They arrived there from the mainland region of northern Québec. As evidenced by the numerous archaeological sites found scattered across the archipelago, the ancient Dorset and Thule cultures both lived on these islands.
    Dorset Culture ('Tuniit' or 'Sivullirmiut'): 500 BC to    1500  AD

     Thule Culture (Proto-Inuit): 1000 AD to 1600 AD

     Inuit Culture (Eskimo): 1600 AD to present-day.

The archipelago first came to the attention of European outsiders when the British explorer Henry Hudson spotted these islands in 1610. After wintering further south in James Bay, his crew mutinied in 1611. Cast adrift, Hudson and his son were never seen again.

The natural resources of Sanikiluaq owe much to its geographic location. As with many northern islands, the weather is noteworthy for its sudden winter storms and dramatic drops in temperature. Travellers to the island should take this into account.

The modern Inuit 'sport'

As I’ve stated before, this country we live in, is vast, it’s taken two trips here to realize just how vast Canada really is. I have developed a deeper respect for those early explorers, who without modern conveniences and navigational aids were able to traverse the Arctic in search of the northwest passage.

At this point, I’m eagerly awaiting the news this summer, of the exploration of one of Franklin’s missing ships found in the past year. All Canadians should be proud of the people of the north. They, too, are proud Canadians and their contributions to our culture are reflected when you look at the art, the crafts, the music and, from what appears to be here in the north, the 2 favourite past times…Bingo and…Hockey.