Arviat

Arviat (, syllabics: ᐊᕐᕕᐊᑦ; formerly called Eskimo Point until 1 June 1989) is a predominantly Inuit hamlet located on the western shore of Hudson Bay in the Kivalliq Region of Nunavut, Canada. Arviat ("place of the bowhead whale") is derived from the Inuktitut word arviq meaning "Bowhead whale". Earlier in history, its name was Tikirajualaaq ("a little long point"), and Ittaliurvik, ("a place where the people make tents").

Demographics
In the 2021 Canadian census conducted by Statistics Canada, Arviat had a population of 2,864 living in 632 of its 694 total private dwellings, a change of NaN% from its 2016 population of 2,657. With a land area of 126.14 km2, it had a population density of in 2021.

Community
Arviat is the southernmost community on the Nunavut mainland and is close to the geographical centre of Canada. In Arviat, Inuktitut and English are primarily spoken, having the third largest population in Nunavut, behind Rankin Inlet and Iqaluit. From the 2011 Canadian census to the 2016 Canadian census there was a population increase of 14.6%. The mayor of Arviat is Joe Savikataaq (Jr.).

The community became a hamlet under the name Eskimo Point (name first appeared on maps in 1738) in 1977.

Cargo and passenger air service is provided by Calm Air, Canadian North and Nolinor Aviation (charter only) out of Arviat Airport. Destinations include other settlements in Nunavut and Manitoba, including Winnipeg.



Hunting and fishing are very active in the community; they are the primary source of sustenance. Four locally operated stores - Padlei Co-op, Northern Stores, Arctic Connection and Eskimo Point Lumber Supply - carry a wide range of products.

To the south, the town of Churchill, Manitoba is accessible by boat (summer and fall only), snowmobile and Bombardier from Arviat and is often travelled to for supplies.

Arviat is well known around the Arctic for its artistic qualities. It is a thriving community with many talented musicians: Susan Aglukark, a well known musician; Simon "Johnny Cash of the North" Sigyariaq; the band Uniaqtuq, with Arsene, Pelagie and Mary Angalik; the Arviat Band, with John and Billy Kuksuk, Paul Kattau and others; the Irksuk band, played by Paul Irksuk and sons. All have had CDs recorded commercially.

Many types of wildlife are abundant. Within the vicinity of Arviat, polar bears, millions of migratory birds, beluga whales, and caribou are often spotted.

The only access is by air and snowmobile, but the Nunavut government and the federal Senate member for Nunavut, Dennis Patterson, are investigating the possibility of a highway from Thompson, Manitoba, Lynn Lake, or Gillam, Manitoba, or an extension of the Hudson Bay Railway from Churchill, Manitoba to Rankin Inlet via Arviat. Similar to other Arctic coast communities there is an annual sealift but it is not available to passengers.

Arviat was originally inhabited by the Paallirmiut, a coastal/inland Inuit band. In 1957, dying of starvation, the last remaining Ihalmiut, another Caribou Inuit band, were relocated to Arviat by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Though there are differences between the two bands, they recognize a need to work together in order to benefit the community.

In 1993, Mark Kalluak published a historical essay on soapstone carving in Arviat, entitled ''Pelts to Stone. A History of Arts and Crafts Production in Arviat''.

Arviat was featured in Dancing Towards the Light, a 2017 CBC News short film and article telling the story of the hamlet's annual dance competition.

The community is home to Arviaqpaluk Radio, a community radio station which operates under an exemption from CRTC licensing for low-power broadcasters.

Politics
The community is represented in the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut by John Main in the electoral district of Arviat North-Whale Cove, and Joe Savikataaq in Arviat South. Savikataaq was Premier of Nunavut from 2018 to 2021.

Savikataaq's son, Joe Savikataaq Jr., became mayor of the community in March 2020, following the death in office of Bob Leonard.

Recreation
The Hudson Bay Quest sled-dog race was run from Churchill to Arviat for the first time in 2004.

Internet
The community has been served by the Qiniq network since 2005. Qiniq is a fixed wireless service to homes and businesses, connecting to the outside world via a satellite backbone. The Qiniq network is designed and operated by SSI Micro. In 2017, the network was upgraded to 4G LTE technology, and 2G-GSM for mobile voice.

Climate
According to the Köppen climate classification Arviat has a subarctic climate (Köppen Dfc). However, using Nordenskjöld's alternate formula for distinguishing Arctic from subarctic climates, it has a polar climate (Köppen ET); as expected from this, it is north of the Arctic tree line. Spring is slow to warm up, with June being cooler than September and May cooler than October. With a yearly mean of -9.3 C it is the third-warmest in Nunavut and the maximum of 33.9 C recorded on 22 July 1973 is second only to that of Kugluktuk. Arviat has a yearly rainfall of 174.4 mm, the fourth-wettest in Nunavut, but only 112.4 cm of snow, the third-least. Temperatures above freezing have never been recorded between 18 November and 17 March, inclusive; conversely, accumulating snow has never been recorded in July or August.