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Gjoa Haven

The Inuktitut name for Gjoa Haven is Usqsuqtuuq, which means “a place with plenty of fat.” The name refers to the fatty fish and seal that were famously abundant in the area.

The explorer Roald Amundsen first travelled to the region in 1903 to gain information about the Magnetic North Pole. In 2003, Gjoa Haven (population approx. 1185) celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Admundsen expedition. Although Gjoa Haven is becoming more modern, and is home to Canada’s most northerly golf course, traditional activities are still enjoyed by many, including throat-singing, drum dancing and hunting.  

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Latest Adaptation Projects by Community

Infrastructure in the Canadian Arctic is being affected by climate change impacts such as permafrost thaw, coastal erosion, and changing temperatures and precipitation patterns.  With this in mind, the Standards Council of Canada established the Northern Infrastructure Standardization Initiative

The Nunavut Climate Change Centre is devoted to including Nunavut communities in their projects and outreach.  Over the last few years, we have had the opportunity to visit multiple communities including Rankin Inlet, Arviat and Cape Dorset.

Mercury (Hg) is a toxic heavy metal that changes into various chemical forms through geochemical processes. It is an element that occurs naturally in the environment but with industrialization, humans have altered its cycle by adding more mercury in the water, air, and soil.

What do your elders and community leaders in Nunavut have to say about changing climate conditions over the years? Do you have images of your region that show the effects of climate change? Submit a community report and add your contribution to our store of knowledge.

The Nunavut Climate Change Partnership (NCCP) was a collaborative partnership between the Government of Nunavut, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, and Natural Reosurces Canada to build capacity for community-level adaptation planning.