Kangirsuk

Kangirsuk
ᑲᖏᕐᓱᖅ
Northern village municipality
Kangirsuk
Coordinates (101, chemin Kuuvviliariaq[1]): 60°01′05″N 70°01′40″W / 60.01806°N 70.02778°W / 60.01806; -70.02778Coordinates: 60°01′05″N 70°01′40″W / 60.01806°N 70.02778°W / 60.01806; -70.02778[2]
Country  Canada
Province  Quebec
Region Nord-du-Québec
TE Kativik
Established 1921 (trading post)
Constituted January 17, 1981
Government[1]
 • Mayor Tommy Nassak
 • Federal riding Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou
 • Prov. riding Ungava
Area[1][3]
 • Total 59.70 km2 (23.05 sq mi)
 • Land 57.26 km2 (22.11 sq mi)
Population (2011)[3]
 • Total 549
 • Density 9.6/km2 (25/sq mi)
 • Change (2006–11) Increase17.8%
 • Dwellings 163
Time zone EST (UTC−5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC−4)
Postal code(s) J0M 1A0
Area code(s) 819
Website www.nvkangirsuk.ca

Kangirsuk (in Inuktitut: ᑲᖏᕐᓱᖅ/Kangirsuq, meaning "the bay") is an Inuit village in northern Nunavik, Quebec, Canada. It is 230 kilometres (140 mi) north of Kuujjuaq, between Aupaluk and Quaqtaq. The community is only accessible by air (Kangirsuk Airport) and, in late summer, by boat. The village used to be known also as Payne Bay and Bellin.[4]

Geography

Kangirsuk is located above the tree line near the mouth of the Arnaud River on the north shore of Payne Bay, 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) inland from the western coast of Ungava Bay. A rocky cliff to the north and a large, rocky hill to the west partially surround the village.[5]

Climate

Climate data for Kangirsuk
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) −18.5
(−1.3)		 −18.6
(−1.5)		 −13.9
(7)		 −6.1
(21)		 1.5
(34.7)		 7.3
(45.1)		 12.1
(53.8)		 11.5
(52.7)		 7.2
(45)		 1.2
(34.2)		 −4.5
(23.9)		 −12.7
(9.1)		 −2.79
(26.98)
Average low °C (°F) −26.4
(−15.5)		 −26.7
(−16.1)		 −22.0
(−7.6)		 −14.2
(6.4)		 −4.8
(23.4)		 0.2
(32.4)		 3.4
(38.1)		 3.6
(38.5)		 0.8
(33.4)		 −3.9
(25)		 −10.8
(12.6)		 −20.0
(−4)		 −10.07
(13.88)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 21
(0.83)		 19
(0.75)		 19
(0.75)		 17
(0.67)		 22
(0.87)		 39
(1.54)		 47
(1.85)		 57
(2.24)		 43
(1.69)		 37
(1.46)		 34
(1.34)		 25
(0.98)		 380
(14.97)

History

Pamiok Island, Longhouse No. 2

In the 11th century the area was possibly visited by Vikings. Not far from the village on Pamiok Island, Thomas E. Lee, an archaeologist from Laval University, has discovered a stone foundation of what is believed to be a Viking long house.[4][5] Another archeological site, Hammer of Thor, is located on north shores of Payne River about 25 km west from the village.

Inuit have hunted and fished along the Ungava Bay coast for centuries. Permanent European settlement did not occur until 1921 when the Revillon Frères company set up a trading post here,[5] named Payne River in memory of Frank F. Payne, who explored the region during the winter of 1885-1886.[6] Four years later, the competing Hudson's Bay Company also set up a post.[5] The Inuit remained nomadic however and only visited the site as a summer encampment because of the abundance of game.[6]

In 1945, the location was known as Payne Bay. In 1959, the federal day school was founded. From then on permanent settlement by Inuit finally began. In 1961, the federal government provided healthcare facilities, housing, and social services.[5] That same year, the Quebec Government decided to give French names to places of the northern Quebec coast and changed the name of the post to Francis-Babel, in honour of Louis-François Babel (1826-1912). But this name did not take root, and was replaced a year later with Bellin, named after Jacques-Nicolas Bellin (1703-1772). It was subsequently known as Bellin (Payne) until 1980. That year, the name was changed to Kangiqsuk when the village was incorporated as a Northern Village Municipality (French: municipalité de village nordique). Local authorities disagreed with this transliteration, and in 1982 it was corrected to Kangirsuk.[6]

The barren terrain at the mouth of the Arnaud River and Payne Bay. Kangirsuk is faintly visible on the north (left) shore just below the open water.

Demographics

Population trend:[7]

Flora and fauna

Payne Bay and the Arnaud River are renowned for its excellent mussel harvesting. Numerous nearby lakes and rivers provide an abundance of Arctic char and lake trout.

On the islands of Kyak Bay and Virgin Lake located to the east and north-east of Kangirsuk, respectively, important colonies of eider ducks nest every year.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Geographic code 99110 in the official Répertoire des municipalités (French)
  2. ↑ Reference number 137700 of the Commission de toponymie du Québec (French)
  3. 1 2 "(Code 2499110) Census Profile". 2011 census. Statistics Canada. 2012.
  4. 1 2 Lee, Thomas E. (1971). Archaeological investigations of a longhouse, Pamiok Island, Ungava, 1970. Centre d'études nordiques de l'Université Laval. ISBN 0-889284-00-8.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Kangirsuk". Nunavik Tourism Association. Retrieved 2008-12-29.
  6. 1 2 3 "Kangirsuk (Municipalité de village nordique)" (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec. Retrieved 2008-12-29.
  7. ↑ Statistics Canada: 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011 census
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