Herschel Island
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Our Island: traders, reindeer herders, the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals Haven in the ice pack and the RCMP were all present on Qikiqtaruk has always been a Herschel Island at some point in gathering place. Inuvialuit have the past 100+ years. used the site for thousands Herschel Island Today, Inuvialuit families continue YG of years and remnants of old to use the area for traditional dwellings are still visible. In the activities while researchers Publications Qikiqtaruk late 1800s, American whalers from around the world study established a station at Pauline Herschel Island Qikiqtaryuk: a natural and cultural history of the unique and rapidly changing TO A GUIDE Cove where ships were protected Yukon’s Arctic island — Christopher R. Burn Territorial Park arctic environment. Park rangers from storms and sea ice. Since manage the park, welcome visitors Qikiqtaruk – Inuvialuit Archaeology on Herschel Island — YG then, the Anglican Church, Qikiqtaryuk and share stories of the past. “it is island” Hudson’s Bay Co., other fur Herschel Island: A Guide to Historic Resources — YG Waves Upon the Shore: An historical Profile of Herschel Island — Rob Ingram & Helen Dobrowolsky Explore Herschel Island! & The Bishop Who Ate His Boots — virtualmuseum.ca the island. If you are lucky, a Wildlife Viewing Bearded Seal may pop its head Between land and out of the shallow bays. But the Available at Environment Yukon offices, Visitor Information sea, the island’s dry most common marine mammal is Centres or from: www.env.gov.yk.ca: polar climate supports the Ringed Seal, who fish Arctic a surprising web of life. The Cod, Arctic Char, Pacific Herring Checklist of the Birds of Herschel Island answer lies in ocean currents. and Arctic Flounder along summer Flora of Herschel Island Territorial Park The huge driftwood trunks that sea ice edges. Peregrine Falcon, litter the beaches in this tree- Rough-Legged Hawk, and Snowy Into the Yukon Wilderness less land originate from as far Owl hunt a variety of songbirds Yukon Wildlife Viewing Guide away as the Liard Basin. They and small mammals. were delivered by the nutrient- How you can stay safe in bear country When the ocean freezes in winter, rich outflow of the Mackenzie land mammals can walk to the River. Billions of tiny organisms island. They also swim across in feed a diversity of fishes that, in Maps summer. Grizzly Bear, Muskox, turn, attract a myriad of air, sea 1:50,000 - Herschel Island (sheet 117D12E) and Barren-ground Caribou are all and land animals, including one 1:250,000 - Herschel Island (sheet 117D) commonly seen. Red and Arctic of the largest colonies of Black foxes hunt Collared and Brown Guillemots in the Western Arctic. Contacts lemmings and Tundra Vole, who Listen to their gentle whistles near nibble grasses, sedges and flowers. the old Anglican Mission House. Yukon Parks In winter, Polar Bears den on 867-667-5648 (Whitehorse) Despite near extinction by early Qikiqtaruk’s northern slopes. 867-777-4058 (Inuvik) commercial whalers, Bowhead Toll-free in Yukon 1-800-661-0408, ext. 5648 When viewing and photographing Whale migrate past the island in [email protected] wildlife, keep your distance. Use the fall, gorging on the abundance binoculars, scopes and telephoto of tiny plankton. The white Beluga Historic Sites Unit lenses to get a better look. Whale is commonly seen from 867-667-5386, or toll-free in Yukon 1-800-661-0408, ext. 5386 Hunting, trapping and witnessing an ancient and Emergency (RCMP Inuvik) fishing in the park enduring way of arctic life. 867-777-1111 If you are an Inuvialuit hunter Visitors may encounter Inuvialuit please respect other park www.yukonparks.ca subsistence users within the users. Store meat and dispose park. When you see our friends of carcasses away from visitor or families harvesting caribou, areas. There are no-hunting ©Government of Yukon, 2013 ISBN 978-1-55362-609-1 seal or Arctic Char, you are zones in the historical and All photos YG-Cameron Eckert except where noted. Cover photos: YG-Park Rangers and Anglican Church of Canada settlement areas. PHO 91, #105, Aoc#78/67 Reuse first – pass it on h it m . S -S FN VG Getting There Facilities From mid-June to mid-September, you can charter Camping aircraft out of Inuvik, NT (250 km southeast). The island is often shrouded in fog, particularly in Bring all the equipment necessary for independent late summer, and flights can be delayed for hours or even days. Be camping in an arctic environment. Facilities are prepared with sufficient gear and food. For self-supported trips to limited to driftwood windbreak shelters for tenting, Welcome to our island Herschel Island, leave a trip plan with a friend or the RCMP. fire rings, outhouses, and a limited supply of water and driftwood. Camping permits ($12 per night) and fishing licences are available A Park Permit is required to land an aircraft or commercial boat on from the park rangers. in the polar sea the island. Herschel Island – Qikiqtaruk became Boating Yukon’s first territorial park in 1987. A Boat charters may operate out of various Mackenzie Delta communities. If you are self-supported, bring result of the Inuvialuit Final Agreement, the adequate fuel for the return trip, as gas is not 116 km 2 park protects a rare combination of available at Herschel Island. Smaller boats and yachts may anchor in Pauline Cove, where whaling ships took shelter from the crushing ice natural and human heritage. long ago. Cruise ships anchor offshore and boat in by zodiak. If you are rafting or kayaking the Firth River on the Yukon mainland, This is a living park. You are entering the you can end your trip at Herschel and return by pre-arranged flight. home of the Inuvialuit, the original people Boating around the island for a day trip is only recommended under extremely calm conditions as the exposed northern cliffs offer no of the western arctic coast. safe or sheltered places to disembark. Be aware that weather can change very quickly. Community House Keep it Wild Visit the interpretive displays in the Community House. Built in 1893 by the Pacific Steam Whaling Company, it was used Plan ahead. Prepare to leave as a gathering place, RCMP headquarters and the residence no trace of the Stringer family. From here you can wander the buildings Travel and camp on durable and layers of history of Simpson Point, imagining the bustle of the surfaces. Avoid crushing fragile whaling period and the thousands of years of Inuvialuit settlement. artefacts, delicate tundra plants When time permits, park rangers offer tours. and hidden bird nests. Use #50-762, Courtesy Mystic Seaport Museum Inc. existing trails and recommended YG-Sara Nielsen Hiking routes. Avoid the sensitive Wildlife and You Inuvialuit grave areas. In the Minimize campfire impacts. Wander the beaches at Simpson Point and Avadlek Spit or uplands, spread out on durable Use stoves or existing fire rings. Bears aren’t the only wildlife attracted to human smells. On Herschel, trek upland tundra in the footsteps of Arctic explorers and ground. Camp in the driftwood Keep campfires small. No fires are Red and Arctic foxes and gulls are notorious thieves. Help them stay Inuvialuit hunters. Follow designated trails and routes and shelters. permitted in the backcountry. wild and healthy by keeping your food and garbage secure. stay clear of the Inuvialuit burial sites. Simpson Point in particular is covered in delicate and unseen natural, historic, paleontological and Grizzly or Polar bears may be encountered anywhere on the island, Dispose of waste properly. Respect wildlife. Observe from archaeological remains. Stay away from unstable cliff edges. They at any time of year. Learn about bears and how to prevent negative Pack it in, pack it out. Use the a distance. Never feed them. Keep continually and suddenly collapse into the sea. Tundra cracks also encounters. Food and garbage are the number one attractants. Never outhouse. In the backcountry, pets under control. give way to dangerous caverns of melting permafrost muck. leave food, dishes, garbage, cosmetics or any smelly item where a cover human waste in a small hole Be considerate of others 60 m from water, camp and trails. bear could get it, especially in your tent. Cook and store attractants If you plan to hike in the park, let the rangers know where you are Respect the interests and waste in bear-proof containers 100 m away from your camp. going and when you expect to return. Leave what you find. of other island users, Leave natural, historical and namely tourists, Ask the park rangers about recent bear activity and rules. Pick up a cultural artefacts undisturbed. researchers, hunters copy of How you can stay safe in bear country. Ask to view the Staying Please report finds to park staff. and residents. Safe in Bear Country video. 139°20'W 139°10'W 139°W 138°50'W ± 200 300 300 100 BEAUFORT SEA 100 500 ( TARIUQ) 500 300 500 300 500 300 100 400 Bell Bluff 500 400 (Manikraq)ˆ 200 200 300 200 300 200 500 200 300 200 300 400 200 300 HERSCHEL ISLAND – QIKIQTARUK 200 200 200 300 TERRITORIAL PARK 597 100 500 100 300 300 200 100 100 200 100 69°35'N 69°35'N 200 300 100 500 300 300 262 ) 300 100 300 400 Collinson Head ˆ 300 Pauline Cove 300 (Nuvuruaq) 300 (Ilutaq) 200 300 300 Simpson Point Orca Cove 100 400 Area Enlarged 300 400 (Kuvluraq)ˆ (Ilukraqnaqˆ ) 200 Avadlek Spit (Nuvugruak Nunaluk Spit 200 200 100 100 200 200 Welles Point Lopez Point 200 (Nuvaraak) (Kuvlualuk) Thrasher Bay 100 To Firth River (2 km) 100 (Ilukraqˆ ) THETIS BAY W 100 O 100 (ILUTAQ) R K B 100 OA T 100 100 P A 100 S S A 100 G 100 E D Osborn Point iff icu (Nuvuruaq) lt 100 Catton Point 100 100 100 C 69°30'N 69°30'N 100 r e e IVVAVIK k Ptarmigan NATIONAL PARK Bay 100 100100 Simpson Point100 (Kuvluraq) 6 15 17 18 16 Historic Structures Park Facilities 1.