Aklavik, Northwest Territories

Aklavik (from the Inuvialuktun meaning barren-ground grizzly place) is a hamlet located in the Inuvik Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. Until 1961, the community served as the regional administrative center for the territorial government. Building conditions at the time considered to be unsuitable resulted in the development of Inuvik to the east, meant to entirely replace Aklavik. However, many residents have persevered and kept Aklavik as a vibrant community. The current mayor of Aklavik is Knute Hansen, whose term lasts until 2010.

Demographics

The population is 594, 545 of which are aboriginal, according to the 2006 Census, a decrease of 6.0% from 2001. In the 2001 Census the community had a majority of Inuvialuit (Uummarmiut) (375) residents but also a number of First Nations (140) and Métis (35) people, along with 50 non-aboriginals. This mixture of aboriginal people in the Northwest Territories is uncommon in the smaller communities. The main languages spoken here are Gwich’in, Inuvialuktun and English.

History

Aklavik began in the early 1900s with the Hudson's Bay Company opening a trading post in 1912 and the Roman Catholic Church establishing a mission in 1926. Located on the Peel Channel, in a good trapping area, the community became a transportation hub in the Mackenzie.

In 1931, Albert Johnson, better known as the "Mad Trapper of Rat River" moved into the area. A complaint was made to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police post in Aklavik and the two members attempted, unsuccessfully, to talk with him. A second attempt was made a few days later, after a search warrant had been obtained, and Johnson shot one of the RCMP. This sparked a large manhunt and ended with the death of Johnson.

By the 1950s the community had developed and grown to over 1,600 people. However, the Peel Channel was subject to flooding, and the river banks were being washed away. Due to the flooding, the Federal Government decided to build a new community at what is now Inuvik, with the intention of closing Aklavik.

In the 1960s, the principal of Aklavik's school, A. J. (Moose) Kerr, started a committee to help save the community. The efforts were successful and the community survived and the local school is named for him.

Today

The community has a school with approximately 150 students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 and Aurora College provides adult education at the Community Learning Centre.

There are two general stores, the Aklavik General Store and the Northern Store operated by The North West Company. The community has a two person RCMP detachment, a health centre with four nurses, a Canada Post outlet, the Aklavik Lodge and the Aklavik Inn (Bessie's Boarding House) for visitor accommodation and two taxi companies.

Like most northern communities, Aklavik has a community hall, a gymnasium that is attached to the school and, uncommonly, a swimming pool.

The community is served only by air, via the Aklavik/Freddie Carmichael Airport, and by winter ice road directly from Inuvik across the streams of the Mackenzie Delta. When the river is open, usually June to September, the Aklavik Water Aerodrome is available for float planes.

Notable people

• Frank Carmichael, trapper and former MLA for Mackenzie West and Mackenzie Delta
• Nellie Cournoyea, former Premier of the Northwest Territories
• Glenna Hansen, former Commissioner of the Northwest Territories
• Robert C. McLeod, current MLA for Inuvik Twin Lakes
• Abe Okpik, first Inuk on the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories and spearheaded Project Surname to replace disc numbers
• Vince Steen, former MLA for Nunakput

References

External links

• Aklavik at the GNWT
• Municipal Affairs and Community Administration profile
• Area map of Aklavik/Inuvik: Aklavik-area-map