Inuit Adventures
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w w w . i nuit ad v e n tu r e s. c o m Inuit Adventures TM Nunavik, Quebec Tunngasugit! Bienvenue! Welcome! te t t Fréche r © Robe An Extraordinary Destination The Experience Nunavik is a destination encompassing a vast expanse that respect the natural heritage of our land and Imagine a place the size of France, with no highways, days and fleece cool nights, with tall mountains, of wilderness that is rarely visited by outsiders. It is strengthen the social and cultural traditions of our no shopping malls, and no city skyscrapers - just 14 wide-open tundra, and countless freshwater lakes rich in natural beauty, full of pristine arctic landscapes, communities. small villages with a total population of less than (no one yet knows exactly how many there are). And wildlife, and warm friendly faces. From Hudson Bay to When you travel to Nunavik, you will make foot- 12,000. A place that is home to one of the world’s your hosts? Some of the most hospitable people you the west, to the Hudson Straight and Ungava Bay to prints in one of the most uninhabited regions on oldest living cultures, the Inuit, who thrive in one will meet anywhere – the soft-spoken and quick-to- the north, to the Torngat Mountains rising in the east earth. You will meet the elders and artists of our vil- of the most spectacular wilderness regions left on laugh Inuit. - this is our land, our home, and we Nunavimmiut – lages and share in the traditional knowledge and sto- Earth. This is the near frontier of Nunavik, in the Nunavik offers today’s adventure-seeking trav- the people of Nunavik - invite you to explore this rela- ries of our people. You will immerse yourself in the north of Quebec, Canada, only a two hour flight from eler an immersion into nature on a truly grand scale, tively unknown region of arctic Canada for an unfor- many wonders of nature and be forever changed by Montreal. In winter, this pristine corner of the Arctic the way our ancestors once experienced the North gettable journey. the experience. On behalf of our guides and commu- brings spectacular displays of the Aurora Borealis, American frontier – raw, powerful, and pure in its Our company, Inuit Adventures, is dedicated to nities, I welcome you to our home and we look for- and the white-covered tundra provides “nature’s abundant beauty. It is a retreat from the increas- encouraging a responsible local tourism industry in ward to meeting you soon. roadway”, as the Inuit travel by dog-sled and snow- ingly congested and urbanized world we live in – a Nunavik. We represent 14 community cooperatives, mobile across the land. In summer, Nunavik bursts place where hiking, exploring, learning about an and serve to help local Inuit guides develop, market, with life - polar bears roam, herds of caribou wander, age-old culture, and just sitting and cherishing and deliver professional tour packages that show- Eli Eliyassiapik migratory birds nest undisturbed, wildflowers Mother Nature’s treasures will leave you yearning to case the very best of our region. At the same time, President, La Fédération des coopératives carpet the land, and trout, salmon, and char fill the return again. we provide meaningful experiences for our guests du nouveau Québec rushing streams and rivers. Think pleasantly warm This is our land, our home, and we Nunavimmiut – the people of Nunavik - Think pleasantly warm days and fleece cool nights, with tall mountains, invite you to explore this relatively unknown region of arctic Canada wide-open tundra, and countless freshwater lakes alirunilik T © Joe Inuit Culture The ancestors of today’s Inuit, known as the Thule, Inuit have a strong commitment to keeping their protect the eyes from the bright early spring sunlight – birds, animals, wind, and water. A century ago, square arrived in Nunavik some 1000 years ago. Known for ancient language alive by passing it from generation bouncing off the snow - sunglasses. dancing was introduced by European whalers, and their highly skilled craftsmanship – needles, combs, to generation. One of their traditional words may sur- Traditionally, when different Inuit groups met remains a popular pastime. These cultural traditions, spears, and other utensils proved essential for their prise visitors: “qajaq.” Mispronounced by Anglo-Saxon during their nomadic travels, games were a popu- and more, are alive and vibrant in Nunavik today - visi- survival during the long winter months - the Inuit settlers from Europe as “kayak”, the Inuit created this lar pastime, testing agility, strength and endurance. tors can watch throat-singers perform, learn about became master carvers of intricate art on pieces of unique boat to travel with speed across the water. Elders passed on important knowledge about the the traditional building of kayaks, and perhaps wit- whalebone, walrus tusks, and stone. Inuit women Because they are communal by tradition without any land and its seasons through storytelling, a skill still ness the “Inuit Games,” as they have become known, created beautiful clothing and tapestries, initially context for “trademark”, the kayak became an Inuit practiced and respected today. When the weather being played in the villages – with the winners moving from furs and skins and later with cloth, and today gift to the world. So when you next paddle in a “qajaq,” was warm, these games were played inside animal on to the bi-annual Arctic Winter Games, an interna- are known for their intricate designs that reflect tra- thank the Inuit for their ingenuity in designing one of skin tents, while igloos played host to the festivities tional gathering of the peoples of the polar regions ditional ties to the natural environment. the world’s most popular watercraft. Yet another Inuit during the winter months. W omen developed their in the company of local guides who pride themselves Cultural heritage runs deep here. Foremost is the innovation, dating back several thousand years, was own games, including throat singing - performed in on their deep understanding of the rich natural and preservation of Inuktitut - the native language. The created from bone, leather, or wood with small slits to pairs imitating the sounds of Nunavik’s natural world cultural heritage that surrounds them. Cultural heritage runs deep here. Foremost is the preservation of These cultural traditions, and more, are alive and vibrant in Nunavik Inuktitut - the native language. The Inuit have a strong commitment today - visitors can watch throat-singers perform, learn about the to keeping their ancient language alive by passing it from generation traditional building of kayaks, and perhaps witness the “Inuit Games,” to generation. as they have become known, being played in the villages tenborn t © Heiko Wi Natural Attractions Arriving in Nunavik, one’s first impression is vastness – spawning Arctic Char, Atlantic salmon and wild trout caribou, wolves, and black bears thrive. Tursujuq, to document this visually dramatic surge of water. the expanse of tundra stretching off to the horizon, to the streams, rivers, and bays. another national park being mapped around And then there is Akpatok Island in Ungava Bay. In a mountains in the distance, the immensity of the sea. Pingualuit National Park, one of a series of new Richmond Gulf, showcases this immense inland lake, crown filled with natural jewels, Akpatok is one of the In summer, the land is alive with wildflowers and wild- national parks, holds the stunning “Crystal Eye” of which joins the Hudson Bay through a narrow chan- brightest diamonds. A lost world rising from the sea, life revelling in the nearly 24 hours of daily sunlight. Nunavik – a symmetrical cobalt-blue crater lake, 267 nel surrounded by high cliffs. Further inland still, dra- its steep cliffs are home to thousands of soaring sea- The local people, also, take full advantage of the warm meters deep, created by a meteorite strike over a mil- matic waterfalls plunge into the Gulf from the sur- birds. Walrus gather here, and polar bears wander the season – fishing, exploring, and traveling by boat lion years ago. Kuururjuaq National Park is home to rounding mountains. During July and August, beluga white-gravel shores, eating fish and bird eggs during across the numerous rivers and bays. the dramatic peaks and lush valleys of the Torngat whales and their calves find shelter in these calm the summer until they can return to the winter ice. For centuries, caribou have provided the Inuit Mountains, where the Inuit believe the spirit world waters, and over 50 archaeological sites discovered Taken all together, few places left in the world with food and clothing. Large numbers of caribou overlaps with our own. Here you can hike to Mount to date trace occupation by Inuit, Cree, and even an remain as wild and yet to be fully explored as Nunavik. journey through the taiga forests and tundra plains D’Iberville, the highest peak in eastern Canada at old Hudson’s Bay Trading Post. of Nunavik, a migration second only to that of Africa’s 1,646 meters, or canoe along the Koroc River - a jour- Further east, Nunavik’s Leaf Bay may have the great wildebeest. Summer also brings schools of ney through lands barely touched by humans, where highest tides in the world - scientific studies continue In summer, the land is alive with wildflowers and wildlife revelling in Pingualuit National Park, one of a series of new national parks, holds the nearly 24 hours of daily sunlight. The local people, too, take full the stunning “Crystal Eye” of Nunavik – a symmetrical cobalt-blue advantage of the warm season – fishing, exploring, and traveling by crater lake, 267 meters deep, created by a meteorite strike over a boat across the numerous rivers and bays.