Our Communities
The Kivalliq Region includes seven communities, each with its own history, dialect, and relationship to the land.
Naujaat / Repulse Bay
Population: 1,225
Located directly on the Arctic Circle, Naujaat means “nesting place for seagulls.” Each June, thousands of seabirds gather on nearby cliffs. Naujaat is known for strong artists who carve bone, ivory, and stone.
Salliq / Coral Harbour
Population: 1,035
Situated on Southampton Island, Coral Harbour is one of Nunavut’s best places to see marine wildlife. Nearby Coats Island hosts walrus colonies, and two major migratory bird sanctuaries attract thousands of geese, swans, and cranes each spring.
Qamani’tuaq / Baker Lake
Population: 2,061
Located near the geographic centre of Canada, Baker Lake is known for its thriving arts community—home to the Jessie Oonark Centre and Inuit Heritage Centre. It is also a hub for mining employment and training linked to the Meadowbank and Amaruq gold projects.
Igluigaarjuk / Chesterfield Inlet
Population: 397
Chesterfield Inlet is one of the oldest communities in the Arctic. It has a long history of Inuit settlement, including in large sod‑house villages where hundreds once lived. Today, visitors explore the Chesterfield Inlet Historic Trail and enjoy fishing, whale watching, and hiking.
Kangiqtiniq / Rankin Inlet
Population: 2,975
The regional centre and transportation hub of Kivalliq, Rankin Inlet has a strong entrepreneurial culture shaped by mining, exploration, and government services. The nearby Ijiraliq River Territorial Historic Park offers hiking, fishing, and access to archaeological sites.
Tikirarjuaq / Whale Cove
Population: 470
A small, traditional community shaped by both inland and coastal Inuit cultures. Residents harvest seal, walrus, beluga, caribou, and fish, and gather berries and kelp seasonally.
Arviat
Population: 2,864
Arviat’s name comes from arviq, the Inuktitut word for bowhead whale. The community is rich in wildlife and cultural strength, with strong Inuktitut language use and active arts and tourism initiatives
Hamlet of Arviat
