Qikiqtarjuaq

Qikiqtarjuaq
ᕿᑭᖅᑕᕐᔪᐊᖅ
Qikiqtarjuaq in 2011
Qikiqtarjuaq in 2011
Qikiqtarjuaq is located in Nunavut
Qikiqtarjuaq
Qikiqtarjuaq
Qikiqtarjuaq is located in Canada
Qikiqtarjuaq
Qikiqtarjuaq
Coordinates: 67°33′17″N 064°01′41″W / 67.55472°N 64.02806°W / 67.55472; -64.02806[1]
CountryCanada
TerritoryNunavut
RegionQikiqtaaluk
Electoral districtUqqummiut
Government
[2][3]
 • TypeHamlet Council
 • MayorHarry Alookie
 • MLAsMary Killiktee
Area
 (2021)[4]
 • Total
130.8 km2 (50.5 sq mi)
Elevation
[5]
6 m (20 ft)
Population
 (2021)[4]
 • Total
593
 • Density4.5/km2 (12/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−05:00 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−04:00 (EDT)
Canadian Postal code
X0A 0B0
Area code867

Qikiqtarjuaq (Inuktitut pronunciation: [qikiqtaʁjuˈaq]; formerly known as Broughton Island until November 1998 /ˈbrɔːtən/,[6]) is a community located on Broughton Island in the Qikiqtaaluk Region of Nunavut, Canada. The island is known for Arctic wildlife (ringed seals, polar bears, bowhead whales, narwhals), bird watching at the Qaqulluit National Wildlife Area (qaqulluit is the Inuktitut word for northern fulmar).[7] The community serves as the northern access point for Auyuittuq National Park and Pangnirtung is the southern access point.

Qikiqtarjuaq hosts an annual Suicide Prevention Walk.[8] Local participants would walk a total distance of 60 km (37 mi) across the tundra from Kivitoo, an old whaling station.[9] Today the walk is much shorter than the original two and a half days, but it is still meant to promote hope among the community.

The community hosts a two-week celebration over the Christmas and New Year period every year. Visitors are warmly welcomed and encouraged to join the festivities and games.

Near Qikiqtarjuaq was the home of FOX-5, a Distant Early Warning Line and now a North Warning System site.

In July 2011, Qikiqtarjuaq was featured in the BBC Radio 4 comedy series Cabin Pressure.

  1. ^ "Qikiqtarjuaq". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada.
  2. ^ "Municipal Election Results 2019-2020" (PDF). Elections Nunavut. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  3. ^ "2021 General Election" (PDF). Elections Nunavut. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  4. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference 2021censusYVM was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Elevation at airport. Canada Flight Supplement. Effective 0901Z 16 July 2020 to 0901Z 10 September 2020.
  6. ^ "Qikiqtarjuaq". Nunavut Tourism. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  7. ^ "Qaqulluit National Wildlife Area". 26 September 2022. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  8. ^ "NunatsiaqOnline 2013-05-30: NEWS: Suicide prevention in Nunavut: Qikiqtarjuaq walkers show they care". www.nunatsiaqonline.ca. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
  9. ^ "NTI CA IIBA Phase 1 Draft – Cultural Heritage Resources Report – Akpait & Qaqulluit Project" (PDF). p. 12.