Igloolik - ᐃᒡᓗᓕᒃ

Igloolik is located on a small island of the same name near the eastern entry of Fury and Hecla Strait, in Foxe Basin. The economy is mixed, with many residents employed in various positions while also taking part in the traditional economy and the harvesting of country food, which forms an important part of the community’s identity. Narwhal, ringed seals, walrus, beluga whale, arctic char, caribou, polar bear, and a variety of migratory birds are the mainstays of the wildlife harvest. The community’s hunting and fishing area includes Frobisher Bay, Resolution Island, Meta Incognita Peninsula, and Amadjuak Lake.

The CRN research team visited the community in March 2018. Team members held participatory mapping workshops with the Hunters and Trappers Association, Hamlet staff, Elders, and other resource users, collecting observations on coastal health and changing coastal conditions. Participants provided all data illustrated on this map.

Coastal issues included: species loss; contamination issues; and changes in species movements. Species losses included kinguk no longer appearing on the beaches and wildlife was much more abundant before. Contamination issues noted were the sewage lagoon overflow and its potential pollution and contamination of the waters. Fishing nets were also getting very dirty and are only good for one season. Observations relating to species changes were the presence of harp seals after 30-40 years and polar bears and walruses moving closer to land as there was no ice.

Community restoration priorities included: a new fence for the dump, clean-up of winter char fishing sites, remediation of contaminated sites, and Arctic char tagging.

To learn more about Igloolik (English version), please download our research profile here. If you would like to view the Inuktitut version of our research profile, please download here.

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