Tuktoyaktuk

Infobox Settlement
name =Tuktoyaktuk
official_name =
other_name = formerly Port Brabant
native_name =Tuktuyaaqtuuq
nickname = TukLocation map polarx
CanadaGeo
caption =
lon_shift = 4.1
label= Tuktoyaktuk
label-size=70 | lat_skew=1.2
background = #DDDD22
position=top
lat = 69.442778
long =-133.031111
mark=Green_pog.svg
marksize=6
width=250
float=right
settlement_type =Hamlet
motto =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Canada
subdivision_type1 = Territory
subdivision_name1 = Northwest Territories
subdivision_type2 = Region
subdivision_name2 = Inuvik Region
subdivision_type3 = Electoral district
subdivision_name3 = Nunakput
subdivision_type4 = Census division
subdivision_name4 = Inuvik Region, Northwest Territories
government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Mervin Gruben
leader_title1 = MLA
leader_name1 = Jackie Jacobson
leader_title2 = Senior Administrative Officer
leader_name2 = Debbie Raddi
leader_title3 = Member of Parliament
leader_name3 = Dennis Bevington
leader_title4 = Senator
leader_name4 = Nick Sibbeston
established_title =
established_date =
established_title1 = Incorporated
established_date1 = 1 April 1970
area_magnitude =
area_footnotes =
area_total_km2 =
area_land_km2 =11.07
area_water_km2 =
area_total_sq_mi =
area_land_sq_mi =
area_water_sq_mi =
area_water_percent =
area_urban_km2 =
area_urban_sq_mi =
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area_blank1_title =
area_blank1_km2 =
area_blank1_sq_mi =
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m =
elevation_ft =15
elevation_max_m =
elevation_max_ft =
elevation_min_m =
elevation_min_ft =
population_as_of =2006
population_footnotes =Statistics Canada. 2007. Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories (table). 2006 Community Profiles. 2006 Census. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 92-591-XWE. Ottawa. Released March 13, 2007. http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/profiles/community/Index.cfm?Lang=E (accessed September 9, 2008).]
population_note =
population_total =870
population_density_km2 =78.6
population_density_sq_mi =
population_metro =
population_density_metro_km2 =
population_density_metro_sq_mi =
population_urban =
population_density_urban_km2 =
population_density_urban_sq_mi =
population_blank1_title =
population_blank1 =
population_density_blank1_km2 =
population_density_blank1_sq_mi =
timezone = MST
utc_offset = -7
timezone_DST =MDT
utc_offset_DST = -6
coordinates_type =type:town_scale:30000
coordinates_display = inline,title
latd=69 |latm=26 |lats=34 |latNS=N
longd=133 |longm=01 |longs=52 |longEW=W
postal_code_type = Canadian Postal code
postal_code = X0E 1C0
area_code = 867
blank_name = Telephone exchange
blank_info = 977
website = [http://www.tuk.ca/ www.tuk.ca/]
footnotes = Sources:
Community Governance Data List [http://www.maca.gov.nt.ca/governments/printpage.asp?Other=FALSE Community Governance Data List] ] ,
Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre [http://www.pwnhc.ca/programs/downloads/OfficialCommunityNames.pdf Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre - official names] ] ,
Canada Flight Supplement [CFS]
Northwestel [Northwestel 2008 phone directory]

Tuktoyaktuk, or Tuktuyaaqtuuq (Inuvialuktun: "it looks like a caribou"), is an Inuvialuit hamlet located in the Inuvik Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. Commonly referred to simply by its first syllable, Tuk, the settlement lies north of the Arctic Circle on the shore of the Arctic Ocean. Formerly known as Port Brabant, the community was renamed in 1950 as part of the trend of changing community names to those originally given by the Native inhabitants.Fact|date=September 2008

History

Tuktoyaktuk is the anglicized form of the native Inuvialuit place-name, meaning "resembling a caribou." According to legend, a woman looked on as caribou, common at the site, waded into the water and turned into stone, or became petrified. Today, reefs resembling these petrified caribou are said to be visible at low tide along the shore of the town. [ [http://tuk.ca/welcome/ Tourist guide] ]

No formal archaeological sites exist today, but the settlement has been used by the native Inuvialuit for centuries as a place to harvest caribou and beluga whales. In addition, Tuktoyaktuk's natural harbour was historically used as a means to transport supplies to other Inuvialuit settlements.

Between 1890 and 1910, a sizeable number of Tuktoyaktuk's native families were wiped out in flu epidemics brought in by American whalers. In subsequent years, the Alaskan Dene people, as well as residents of Herschel Island, settled here. A Hudson's Bay Company trading post was established in 1937.

Radar domes were installed beginning in the 1950s as part of the Distant Early Warning Line, to monitor air traffic and detect possible Soviet intrusions during the Cold War. The settlement's location played an important role in resupplying civilian contractors and Air Force personnel along the "DEW Line."

The community of Tuktoyaktuk eventually became a base for the oil and natural gas exploration in the Beaufort Sea. Large industrial buildings remain from the busy period following the 1973 OPEC oil embargo and 1979 summertime fuel shortage. This brought many more outsiders into the region.

On 3 September 1995, the Molson Brewing Company arranged for several popular rock bands to give a concert in Tuktoyaktuk as a publicity stunt to promote their new ice-brewed beer. During the months leading up to concert, radio stations across North America ran contests in which they gave away free tickets. Dubbed "The Molson Ice Beach Party" and "Polar Beach Party", it featured Hole, Metallica, Moist and Veruca Salt. Canadian film-maker Albert Nerenberg made a documentary about this concert entitled "Invasion of the Beer People". [ [http://www.nutaaq.com/productions/beerpeople.html Website for Invasion of the Beer People] ]

In 2008, Tuktoyaktuk was featured in the second season of the reality television series "Ice Road Truckers".

Geography

Tuktoyaktuk is set on Kugmallit Bay, near the Mackenzie River Delta, and is located on the Arctic tree line.

Many locals still hunt, fish, and trap. Locals rely on caribou in the autumn, ducks and geese in both spring and autumn, and fishing year-round. Other activities include collecting driftwood, caribou herding, and berrypicking. Most wages today, however, come from tourism and transportation. Northern Transportation Company Limited (NTCL) is a major employer in this region. In addition, the oil and gas industry continues to employ explorers and other workers.

Tuktoyaktuk is the gateway for exploring Pingo National Landmark, an area protecting eight pingos in a region which contains approximately 1,350 of these Arctic ice dome hills. The landmark comprises an area roughly convert|16|km2|abbr=on, just a few miles west of the community, and includes Canada's highest (the world's second-highest) pingo, at convert|49|m|abbr=on. It is managed by Parks Canada within the national park system, and, although a nationwide Landmarks program was envisioned, Pingo remains the country's only National Landmark.Cite web|author=Parks Canada|authorlink=Parks Canada|year=2005| url= http://www.pc.gc.ca/docs/v-g/pingo/index_e.asp |title=Pingo National Landmark|accessdate=2008-01-05]

Demographics

As of the 2006 census, the Hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk has a population of 870, down 6.5% from the 2001 Census total of 930. There are 274 private dwellings, and a population density of convert|78.6|PD/km2. The average annual salary of a full-time worker is $45,598 Canadian. Tuktoyaktuk has a large Protestant following, with a sizeable Catholic population as well. Local languages are Inuvialuktun and English. [ [http://www.assembly.gov.nt.ca/_live/pages/wpPages/maptuktoyaktuk.aspx Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, Tuktoyaktuk profile] ]

See also

* Tuktoyaktuk Airport
* Territorial claims in the Arctic

References