Kangiqsualujjuaq, Quebec

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Coordinates: 58°41′30″N, 65°57′0″W Kangiqsualujjuaq (ᑲᖏᖅᓱᐊᓗᔾᔪᐊᖅ in Inuktitut syllabics; also Kangirsualujjuaq ᑲᖏᕐᓱᐊᓗᔾᔪᐊᖅ) is an Inuit village with a population of approximately 620, located on the east coast of Ungava Bay at the mouth of the George River, in Nunavik, Quebec, Canada.

The community has also been known as Fort Severight, Fort George River, and Port du Nouveau-Québec. The name "Kangiqsualujjuaq" means "the very large bay" in Inuktitut.

Industries in Kangiqsualujjuaq include hunting of caribou, seal and beluga whale, arctic char fishing, and the production of Inuit crafts.

[edit] History

The Hudson's Bay Company operated a post south of today's village during the periods of 1838-42, 1876-1915 and 1923-32. But the Inuit of the area never settled around the post, preferring to live along the coast in summer and setting their camps about 50 km inland in winter. In 1959, local Inuit established, on their own initiative, the first co-operative in Northern Quebec for the purpose of marketing arctic char. Construction of the village began in 1962 and from then on Inuit began to settle permanently there. In 1963 a school, a co-operative store, and government buildings were built. In 1980, Kangiqsualujjuaq was legally established as a municipality.

The community was stricken by an avalanche in the early morning of January 1, 1999, which destroyed the Satuumavik School gymnasium during New Year celebrations, killing nine. [1]