Repulse Bay - Wikivoyage, the free collaborative travel and tourism guide - Repulse Bay — Wikivoyage, le guide de voyage et de tourisme collaboratif gratuit

Repulse bay (Naujaat (ᓇᐅᔮᑦ) (iu))
Information
Country	Canada
Region	Kivalliq
Area	423,7 km²
Population	926 hab. (2012)
Density	2,19 inhab./km²
Postal code	X0C 0H0
Telephone prefix	1 867 462-
Location
66 ° 31 ′ 29 ″ N 86 ° 14 ′ 5 ″ W
Official site
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Repulse bay is a city of Nunavut to Canada

Understand

Repulse Bay sits directly above the Arctic Circle on the shores of Hudson Bay in the region of Kivalliq in the east of Nunavut. Being one of the last places in the Arctic to join the “modern world”, Repulse Bay is still steeped in traditional Inuit life. The name of the community in inuktitut, the language of the Inuit, is Naujaat and means "nesting place of seagulls". The sun is above the horizon for 24 hours the 21st of June and entirely below the horizon for 24 hours the December 21.

Residents are proud of their community and the beauty of the surrounding landscape. The horizon is dotted with picturesque coves and hills of all shapes, some of which are snow-covered year round. Its natural harbor was a paradise for whale hunters during the XIX^e century and locals still use the area for annual narwhal hunting.

Story

In 1742 Christopher Middleton entered the bay during his search for the Northwest Passage. He discovered that it was indeed a bay and not a passage and, in his frustration at being blocked, he named it Repulse Bay (literally the "repulsive bay"). The bay was also an important site for bowhead whale hunting in the 19th century.^e century with many ships wintering on the Harbor Islands. Whalers began making regular trips to Repulse Bay in 1860, but by 1914 commercial whaling virtually ceased. The Hudson's Bay Company opened a permanent trading post in 1919 which was taken over, in 1987, by the resumed North West Company.

In the 1930s, missionaries came to the area and changed the course of life for the Inuit. The Amitturmiut converted to the Anglican religion; most of them lived near the hill. The Nattilikmiut, originally from Pelly Bay, and the Aivilingmiun converted to Catholicism; they settled on the east side. On this unnamed hill there is a traditional cemetery. In the 1950s, it was common to hear Inuit arguing about their religious faiths over which one was better.

In the 1940s, people began carving in large numbers, working largely with teatite, ivory, and sometimes whalebone. This enabled the Inuit to live well, providing them with additional income. The Government of Canada launched the Eskmo Rental Housing Program in 1968 and almost all of the Inuit in the region settled in Naujaat. A new economy was facilitated by the presence of government institutions who hired locally and it was then that the current community was established.

To go

By plane

• 66.5205-86.22471 Repulse Bay Airport (IATA : YUT Repulse Bay Airport) Naujaat,   1 867 462-9973 (last update Feb. 2018)

Airline company	Destinations
Calm Air ,   1 867 462-4378, 1 800 839-2256 (free number) (last update Feb. 2018)	Arviat, Baker lake, Chesterfield Inlet, Churchill, Coral Harbor, Rankin Inlet, Thompson, Whale cove, Winnipeg
First Air ,   1 867 462-4700, 1 800 267-1247 (free number), fax : 867 462-4701 (last update Feb. 2018)	Arviat, Baker lake, Chesterfield Inlet, Coral Harbor, Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet, Whale cove, Winnipeg, Yellowknife
Kivalliq Air ,   1 867 462-4270 (last update Feb. 2018)	Churchill, Coral Harbor, Rankin Inlet, Winnipeg

Circulate

To see

Narwhals, nicknamed the "sea unicorn", are often seen in the waters around Repulse Bay during the summer season and hunters in the area take the time to stock up on this source of nutritious food. Narwhal tusks are in high demand and are sold or used to make jewelry and other items.

Just west of Repulse Bay is Ukkusiksalik National Park, named after the soapstone abundant in the area. The park includes Wager Bay, an arm of the sea with waterfalls and over 500 archaeological sites.

• Catholic Church ,   1 867 462-9912 (last update Feb. 2018)
• St. Stephen's Anglican Church  (last update Feb. 2018)
• Glad Tidings Church  (last update Feb. 2018)
• Aivilik Arts Society ,   1 867 462-4027 – Residents formed the Aivilik Art Society in an effort to promote Inuit sculpture and art to the market around the world. (last update Feb. 2018)

Do

One of the most fascinating activities for the visitor is to take a short hike north of the airport, on the low rocky hills that surround the community. Dotted with small lakes and marshes, the hills contain a lot of vegetation and typical arctic fauna. On the top of the hill, it is the community cemetery, with white crosses that tell the story of the community and its inhabitants. Conclude your walk at the Hamlet offices, which provide a community meeting place as well as recreational facilities.

An access road is under construction from the community of Repulse Bay to the North Pole River. This road will provide access to John Rae's "Stonehouse" for tourist purposes. The road will also be used for fishing and camping for local residents.

• The association of hunters and trappers Arviq (Arviq Hunters & Trappers Association (Inuit)) Box 39,   1 867 462-4334, fax : 867 462-4335 – Local information: the land, traditional foods, local outfitting (last update Feb. 2018)
• The Mapsalak outfitter Box 11,   1 867 462-4134, fax : 1 867 462-4198 – Outfitter and guide (last update Feb. 2018)
• Outfitter Arctic Circle Paws & Paddles Box197,   1 867 462-4482, e-mail : [email protected] – Guided dog sledding rides and tours from October to June. Guided sea kayaking tours and instructions from July to frost in October (last update Feb. 2018)

To buy

There is no bank in Repulse Bay, but ATM machines can be found at the Northern Store and the Co-op.

• Northern Store Box 40,   1 867 462-9923, fax : 1 867 462-4011 – General store (last update Feb. 2018)
• Naujat Co-operative Box 70,   1 867 462-9921, fax : 1 867 462-4152 – Retail, groceries, hardware / tools, gifts (last update Feb. 2018)

Eat

Have a drink / Go out

Alcohol can only be purchased in Repulse Bay which is one of the 12 "Restricted" communities. Visitors and residents are free to order alcohol from the warehouse, but need the approval of a local alcohol education committee, which may set limits on the size of their order, or even deny their request.

Housing

• Arctic Circle Bed & Breakfast Box 197,   1 867 462-4482, e-mail : [email protected] – 2 beds available (last update Feb. 2018)
• Naujaat Inns North ,   1 867 462-4304, 1 867 462-9921 – Hotel (15 double rooms) & dining room (30 people) (last update Feb. 2018)

Communicate

• Canada Post Office ,   1 867 462-4194 (last update Feb. 2018)
• Radio station ,   1 867 462-4061 (last update Feb. 2018)

Manage the day-to-day

• Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) ,   1 867-462-1111 (last update Feb. 2018)
• Fire drill ,   1 867 462-4422 (last update Feb. 2018)
• Health center ,   1 867 462-9916  8 h 30 - 17 h from Monday to Friday. – There is an emergency service 24 h but no doctors on site, the nurse consults a doctor by telephone in Churchill. (last update Feb. 2018)
• City Hall ,   1 867 462-9952, fax : 1 867 462-4411 (last update Feb. 2018)

Around