Qikiqtaaluk Region

The Qikiqtaaluk Region (Inuktitut: ᕿᑭᖅᑖᓗᒃ), also known as the Qikiqtani Region or Baffin Region, is the easternmost, northernmost, and southernmost administrative region of Nunavut, Canada. It is named after Baffin Island, the traditional Inuktitut name for which is Qikiqtaaluk. This area is the largest and most populated of the three regions in Nunavut, with a population of 19,355 and covering an area of 970,554.61 km².

The region includes many islands such as Baffin Island, the Belcher Islands, Akimiski Island, and Ellesmere Island, among others. The regional centre and territorial capital is Iqaluit, home to 7,429 people. The Qikiqtaaluk Region extends to the northernmost, easternmost, and southernmost points of Nunavut.

Before 1999, this area was part of the Northwest Territories as the Baffin Region. Today, it remains an important part of Canada's Arctic, with unique cultures and landscapes.

Communities

All of the thirteen communities in the Qikiqtaaluk Region are situated near water. Almost half of the people live in Iqaluit, which is the capital and only city of Nunavut. The other communities are smaller villages such as Kinngait, Clyde River, Grise Fiord, Sanirajak, Igloolik, Kimmirut, Pangnirtung, Pond Inlet, Qikiqtarjuaq, Resolute, Sanikiluaq, and Arctic Bay.

People in this region enjoy traditional foods like seal, Arctic char, walrus, polar bear, and caribou. The people here are known as Qikiqtaalungmiut.

Iqaluit

Iqaluit is home to important places such as the Astro Hill Complex, the Nunatta Sunakkutaangit Museum, the Legislative Building of Nunavut, and the Unikkaarvik Visitors Centre.

Pre-contact

The Inuit people are thought to come from the Thule people. They moved into areas where earlier groups, called the Dorset culture (known as the Tuniit in Inuktitut), used to live. By the year 1300, the Inuit had set up trade paths with cultures living farther south.

History

Around 1910, people from Europe wanted more white fox pelts, so the Inuit people changed where they traveled to hunt and fish to get involved in the fur trade. Traditional foods like seal and caribou were not always found where the white foxes lived. The Hudson's Bay Company, which started in 1670, opened trading posts in areas where Inuit and First Nations lived. By 1910, the company had changed to focus on selling land, retail, and the fur trade. The Hudson's Bay Company became the main seller of fur with little oversight from the Canadian government, along with some missionaries living near remote northern villages. By 1922, most goods the Inuit got came from the Hudson's Bay Company.

Protected areas

The Qikiqtaaluk Region has many special places where nature is protected. These areas help keep wildlife and beautiful landscapes safe for everyone to enjoy.

• Auyuittuq National Park
• Bowman Bay Wildlife Sanctuary
• Katannilik Territorial Park Reserve
• Kekerten Territorial Park
• Mallikjuak Territorial Park
• Pisuktinu-Tunngavik Territorial Park
• Polar Bear Pass National Wildlife Area
• Quammaarviit Territorial Park
• Quttinirpaaq National Park
• Sirmilik National Park
• Sylvia Grinnell Territorial Park

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population by Statistics Canada, the Qikiqtaaluk Region had a population of 19,355 people living in 5,530 homes out of 6,573 total homes. This was a small increase of 1.9% from the 2016 population of 18,988 people. The region covers a very large land area of 970,554.61 km² (374,733.23 sq mi), making its population density very low at 0.0 people per km² (0.1 per sq mi) in 2021.

Surrounding census divisions

The Qikiqtaaluk Region shares borders with several other areas. These include Division No. 11, Newfoundland and Labrador, which includes Nunatsiavut, Division No. 23, Manitoba, Inuvik Region, Kivalliq Region, and Kitikmeot Region.