Oct 2008

All photographs and content copyright of the McLartys of Rankin Inlet Nunavut use in any way with out written permission not allowed ©2008

Kivalliq-the central region of Canada’s Nunavut Territory

Chesterfield Inlet is a closely knit community of approximately 300. Families are so intertwined that just about everyone is related. There¹s a strong community spirit and a comfortable blend of traditional and modern lifestyles.

From the mid 1800’s to the beginning of this century, whalers visited the area regularly and often overwintered here. They counted on local Inuit to hunt for them and to man their whale boats. At Chesterfield Inlet Inuit often gathered to seek employment or to trade goods. Until the 1950’s the community was a major centre North of Churchill, MB. It was the Hudson Bay Companies main supply centre for other posts in the area. It was also the site of the largest RCMP barracks and the largest Roman Catholic mission in the eastern arctic, as well as medical and education centre.