First-time visitors to the North come back changed forever. So will you.
Welcome to Nunavik—the magnificent territory that lies north of the 55th parallel in Northern Quebec.
Singular in its geography and history, Nunavik occupies nearly 507,000 square kilometers, bordered by Hudson Bay to the west, the Hudson Strait to the north, and Labrador to the east: 507,000 square kilometers of unspoiled tundra, mountains, majestic rivers and countless lakes. A treasure of natural beauty that’s home to a diverse array of plants, fish and other wildlife, each species uniquely adapted to the Canadian North.
But Nunavik’s greatest resource is its people. Their calm, proud demeanor often conceals a warm sense of humour and polite bemusement at the complex ways of southerners. Hard working, resilient and self-reliant in an often harsh environment, they share easily and keep their tools in good working order—a pleasure to be among when you come to work or live in their heartland.
There are over 10,000 Inuit living in Nunavik, all in communities at between 1,000 and 1,900 kilometers’ distance of Montreal, the second largest city in Canada. All but four have fewer than 1,000 inhabitants. The largest are Kuujjuaq, Puvirnituq, Salluit and Inukjuak.
The Inuit are Canadian citizens and, contrary to popular belief, pay all federal and provincial taxes. At last census, there were also about 1000 non-Inuit residents living in the territory.
The Inuit are a youthful people. Over 60% are under 30 years of age–twice the percentage of southern Quebec. The birth rate among Inuit is three to four times higher than other Canadians, and life expectancy has increased dramatically since the 1950s.
Students are taught in their native Inuktitut until the third grade, at which time they may choose English or French as their language of instruction, although Inuit language and culture continue to be taught throughout primary and secondary school. The level of language retention in Nunavik is over 95% among Inuit, and
Inuktitut remains the dominant language spoken.
