Sanikiluaq

Sanikiluaq ᓴᓂᑭᓗᐊᖅ
Sanikiluaq in December
Sanikiluaq
Coordinates:
Country	Canada
Territory	Nunavut
Region	Qikiqtaaluk Region
Electoral district	Hudson Bay
Government
• Type	Hamlet Council
• Mayor	Joe Arragutainaq
• MLA	Allan Rumbolt
Area
• Total	114.98 km2 (44.39 sq mi)
Elevation	32 m (105 ft)
Population (2011)
• Total	812
• Density	7.1/km2 (18/sq mi)
Time zone	EST (UTC-5)
• Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
Canadian Postal code	X0A 0W0
Area code(s)	867
Website	www.sanikiluaq.ca

Sanikiluaq (ᓴᓂᑭᓗᐊᖅ) is a municipality and Inuit community located on the north coast of Flaherty Island in Hudson Bay, on the Belcher Islands, in the Qikiqtaaluk Region of Nunavut, Canada.

History

Landsat satellite photo of Belcher Islands

The community was developed in the early 1970s to replace "South Camp", located further south in the island group.

Economic development

Sanikiluaq had an eider down factory for 20 years. It closed down in 2005 due to government funding running out and population of eider ducks decreasing at a rapid rate. The factory reopened in June 2015.

Transportation

It is the southernmost community in the territory, and is served by the Sanikiluaq Airport. Air service is provided by Air Inuit and Calm Air.

Education

There are two schools in the community, Nuiyak School, with 11 teaching staff, teaches grades K-6, with 125 students enrolled. Paatsaali School has 177 students and teaches grades 7-12. In 2007, former Principal Lisi Kavik was named one of Canada's Outstanding Principals.

Government

The community is in the Hudson Bay Electoral District and Allan Rumbolt is the member of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut. He replaced Peter Kattuk in the 2008 general election.

In the territorial election held Oct. 27, 2008, the candidates were Rumbolt, Bill Fraser and Johnny Manning. Rumbolt won by 31 votes over Fraser, with 45 per cent of the vote. In the 2013 general election Allan Rumbolt was reelected.

The local municipality has a Hamlet Council of elected councillors. Former acting mayor Elijassie Sala became mayor after the December 12, 2011 election, earning 87 votes, five more than incumbent Joe Arragutainaq. In the Dec. 9, 2013, hamlet elections, Joe Arragutainaq was once again elected mayor.

Film

Written and directed by Joel Heath, with support from the community of Sanikiluaq, "People of a Feather" is a documentary film about the relationship between climate change, hydroelectric dams, eider ducks and the people of the Belcher Islands.

See also

• Moses Appaqaq

Further reading

• Arctic College. Stories from Sanikiluaq. Iqaluit, N.W.T.: Arctic College, Nunatta Campus, 1989. ISBN 1-55036-099-X
• Canadian Arctic Producers Co-operative Ltd. Sanikiluaq, Belcher Islands Recent Sculpture. Ottawa: Canadian Arctic Producers, 1979.
• Driscoll, Bernadette. Belcher Islands/Sanikiluaq The Winnipeg Art Gallery, June 27-August 30, 1981. Winnipeg: Winnipeg Art Gallery, 1981. ISBN 0-88915-095-8
• Kavik, Lisi, and Miriam Fleming. Qikiqtamiut Cookbook. [Sanikiluaq, Nunavut]: Municipality of Sanikiluaq, 2002. ISBN 1-896445-22-5
• Language of Sanikiluarmiut Snikiluarmiut Uquasingit. --. Sanikiluaq, N.W.T.?: s.n.], 1980s.
• Report on Business Development and Resource Management Strategies for Eider Down Industry in Sanikiluaq, N.W.T. Sanikiluaq, N.W.T.?: s.n, 1990.
• Wein, Eleanor E. Sanikiluaq Traditional Food Study Report. Edmonton: Canadian Circumpolar Institute, University of Alberta, 1995.