March 1998

Government of Canada
Canadian Heritage - Parks Canada
National Historic Sites

Arvia’juaq National Historic Site

Arvia’juaq was designed a national historic site in August 1995. Since that time the Arvia’juaq Planning Committee has considered the protection and presentation of the site, and completed a Conservation and Presentation Report in November 1997. The report provided the basis for a Cost-Sharing Agreement between Parks Canada and the Arviat Historical Society.

Arvia’juaq has always been important to Paallirmiut who now live in Arviat. For many generations Inuit returned to Arvia’juaq to camp and harvest its abundant marine resources. These gatherings provided an opportunity to teach the young, celebrate life, and affirm and renew Inuit society. The site has two aspects: the mainland point Qikiqtaarjuk and the island of Arvia’juaq itself.

The documentation of oral traditions, archaeological sites and traditional Inuktitut place names over the last four years has resulted in a very detailed computerized geographic information system data base for the future protection and presentation of the site.

The Arvia’juaq Planning Committee’s Conservation and Presentation Report contains their plans for the commemoration of Arvia’juaq National Historic Site. Local outfitters are being encouraged to develop tour packages to the island. Exhibits will be developed in the Margaret Aniksak Visitor Centre for seasonal visitors and an outreach program is planned that will include local community involvement, a web-site and possibly future publications.

As the site consists of Inuit Owned Land and municipal land, protection of the site will be provided by the land use controls available to the Kivalliq Inuit Association and the Hamlet of Arviat. In addition, the importance of protecting the site has been brought to the attention of the Nunavut Planning Commission through the recent review of the Keewatin Regional Land Use Plan. The land use controls available to the land administrators and the Nunavut Planning Commission are expected to be sufficient to protect the site

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