About Nunatsiavut

History of Nunatsiavut

Nunatsiavut, meaning “Our Beautiful Land” in Inuktitut, is the homeland of the Inuit in Labrador and is full of rich culture, history, and stunning natural landscapes where approximately 2,300 Inuit live, primarily in five coastal communities. Today, Inuit communities carry forward traditions, knowledge, and connections to the land and sea that have been passed down for generations. This page includes resources to help you explore Nunatsiavut’s people, culture, language, and environment—giving you a head start on understanding the communities you’ll visit during your expedition.

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The People of Nunatsiavut

The people of Nunatsiavut have a vibrant culture, rich in language, art, and traditional practices that connect them to their land and community.

History and Culture

Learn about the long history and vibrant culture of Nunatsiavut, where Inuit traditions, stories, and ways of life have shaped the region for generations.

The Route to Self-Government

Nunatsiavut is the only Inuit self-governing region in Atlantic Canada after years of work by Inuit leaders to protect their land, culture, and way of life. In 2005, an agreement between the Inuit, the provincial government, and Canada gave the region control over land, resources, and local decision-making. This means the Inuit of Nunatsiavut can make choices about their communities, culture, and environment, helping preserve their traditions while guiding their own future.

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Language

Inuttitut (aka Nunatsiavummiutut) is spoken across Nunatsiavut—it’s just one of several distinct dialects that are prevalent across Inuit Nunangat. You can read more about the Inuktut language at tusaalanga.ca/about-Inuktut and the different Inuktut dialects across Canada at Inuktut Tusâlanga.

As we learn more about these places and the people who call them home, we invite you to learn some of the traditional Inuktut words and phrases that relate to these regions. Here are some words that you may have already seen:

The word Inuit means “the people’” in Inuktut.
The singular of Inuit is Inuk.
Nunatsiavut means “our beautiful land” in Inuttitut.
Nunatsiavummiut is translated to “people of Nunatsiavut” in Inuttitut, or “people of the beautiful land.”
The Torngat Mountains National Park takes its name from the Inuttitut word Tongait, meaning place of spirits.
The proposed marine conservation area called Imappivut means “our Oceans’’ in Inuttitut.

For on-the-go reference, check out the Inuttut Kautamât uKauset (Inuttitut everyday words) app to learn some phrases and expressions in Inuttitut.

Atte!

Communities of Nunatsiavut

Nunatsiavut comprises five current communities and several relocated communities. Both the English and Inuktut names are listed below. Click the button below to learn more about original place names in Inuit lands.

Let's Go!

Aqvituuq (Hopedale)

Meaning: "Place of whales"

Hopedale is the legislative capital of the Inuit Land Claims Area Nunatsiavut. Google the "Avertok Archeology Project" for more insight into the cultural history of the community of Hopedale.

Nunainguk (Nain)

Meaning: "he/she is so far out to sea that he/she cannot see any sign of land"

Nain is the northernmost permanent settlement in Newfoundland and Labrador. Read more about Nain below.

Marruuvik (Makkovik)

Meaning: “'Vik' is an Inuktut word meaning 'place.' 'Makko' may be a corruption of the word 'maggok,' which means 'two.'”

Makkovik has a beautiful Poet’s Path where hikers can be inspired by the poetry plaques along the way. Read an overview of Makkovik below.

Qipuqqaq (Postville)

Meaning: "Having scrapes or scratch marks"

The community of Postville was established as a trading post, where Inuit would trade with Europeans via Kaipokok Bay. Read more about Postville below.

Kikiak (Rigolet)

Meaning: "Nail"

The town is the southernmost officially recognized Inuit community in the world. Read an overview of Rigolet below.

Hebron & Okak & Nutak

(The relocated communities of Nunatsiavut)

In the 1830s, the German Moravian church established missions in several Inuit communities. They later decided to close the missions in Hebron, Okak, and Nutak, forcing the Inuit people who lived there to relocate into larger communities. We will be visiting both Hebron and Okak. Read about the national historic sites in these relocated communities and the archaeological findings of the community of Hebron.

Hebron Relocation

In Hebron Relocation, Holly Andersen explores what makes a place a home as she learns more about her community’s connection to generations of displaced northern Labrador Inuit.

Conservation in Nunatsiavut

Nunatsiavut is full of amazing wildlife and landscapes, and the people who live here are leading strong efforts to protect them. One of the cornerstones of conservation in the region is Torngat Mountains National Park, a vast protected area co-managed by Inuit and Parks Canada, where Inuit knowledge and culture guide decisions alongside scientific research. The park is home to caribou, polar bears, wolves, and unique Arctic plants.

Another important initiative is Imappivut, a community‑driven program that blends Inuit knowledge with scientific research to watch over wildlife and ecosystems, helping make sure both animals and people can thrive now and in the future. Building on this work, Nunatsiavut and the Government of Canada are also advancing plans for a new Inuit Protected Area/ National Marine Conservation Area next to Torngat Mountains National Park. If established, this marine area could protect up to 17,000 square kilometres of the Labrador Shelf—keeping rich ocean waters and the species that depend on them healthy for generations to come.

On expedition, you’ll learn how these conservation efforts are rooted in local leadership, culture, and care for the land and sea—and how people here are working with partners to protect this special part of the Arctic.

More About Imappivut

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