kuujjuaq by MagikUnicorn
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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
Kuujjuaq is the largest northern village (Inuit community) in Nunavik, Quebec, Canada with a population of 2,375 as of the Canada 2011 Census. It is the administrative capital of the Kativik Regional Government and lies on the western shore of the Koksoak River.
Kuujjuaq previously was known as Fort Chimo. Chimo is a mispronunciation of the Inuit phrase saimuuq, "Let's shake hands!" Early fur traders were often welcomed with this phrase which they eventually adopted as the name of the trading post. A fictional account of this naming is found in the novel Ungava by Robert Michael Ballantyne.
The first Europeans to have contact with local Inuit were Moravians. On August 25, 1811, after a perilous trip along the coasts of Labrador and Ungava Bay, Brother Benjamin Kohlmeister and Brother George Kmoch arrived at an Inuit camp on the east shore of the Koksoak River, a few kilometers downstream from the present-day settlement. Their aim was to convert "the Esquimaux to Christianity." According to the journal kept by Brother Kohlmeister, Inuit of the Koksoak River were very interested in having a Moravian mission in the area.
Around 1830, the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC), today popularly known simply as « The Bay », started the fur trade business in Nunavik by establishing their first post on the east shore of the Koksoak River, about 5 km downstream from the present-day settlement. The post closed in 1842, then reopened in 1866. At that time, Inuit as well as Montagnais and Naskapi came to trade at the post.
The construction of a U.S. Air Force base (Crystal 1) (see Kuujjuaq Airport) in 1942 on the west shore of the Koksoak River, the site of today's settlement, and the occupation of the site by the American army between 1941 and 1945 sped up the development of the community. After the end of World War II, the United States turned the base over to the Canadian government. In 1948, a Catholic mission was established, followed by a nursing station, a school and a weather station. When the HBC moved upstream closer to the airstrips in 1958, it was followed by the remaining families that still lived across the river at Fort Chimo. In 1961, a co-operative was created.
Kuujjuaq lies 48 km upstream from Ungava Bay. Life in this community involves a close relationship with the river. Its tides regularly change the local landscape, while their rhythm strongly influences the traditional summer activities. Although the tree line is very close, the boreal forest is present around Kuujjuaq. Patches of black spruce and larch stand in marshy valleys. Kuujjuaq also witnesses annual migrations of the George River caribou herd. These animals pass through the region throughout August and September.
Thanks
Magik
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Comments (55)
Kuujjuaq est un village nordique du Nunavik situé sur le bord de la rivière Koksoak dans la région administrative du Nord-du-Québec, au Québec. Anciennement baptisé Fort Chimo, il est la capitale de l'Administration régionale Kativik. Selon Statistique Canada, sa population s'élève à plus de 2 100 personnes, dont 81 % s'identifient comme autochtones et dont la quasi-totalité sont Inuits. Ses habitants s'appellent les Kuujjuamiut. Le premier nom donné au village fut Fort Chimo, mauvaise prononciation répandue d'une expression inuktitut signifiant en français : « Serrons-nous la main ! ». Les Inuits prononçaient cette phrase pour souhaiter la bienvenue aux commerçants de fourrure. Ces derniers adoptèrent ensuite l'expression pour définir ce poste de traite. Le nom actuel, Kuujjuaq, signifie la grande rivière. Le premier contact entre les Européens et les Inuits locaux a eu lieu le 25 août 1811 lorsque des missionnaires moraves arrivèrent, après un voyage périlleux, à un campement inuit qui se trouvait sur la rive est de la rivière Koksoak. Ils y établirent une mission dont le but était de convertir les Inuits au Christianisme. Vint par la suite un poste de traite de la Compagnie de la Baie d'Hudson en 1830 qui contribua au commerce local. Le poste ferma temporairement ses portes de 1842 à 1866. En 1942, les Forces armées américaines y établissent la base Crystal 1 à l'emplacement actuel du village de Kuujjuaq. L'occupation du site par les Américains a permis d'accélérer le développement du village. Après la Seconde Guerre mondiale, ces derniers cédèrent la base au gouvernement canadien. Une mission catholique s’établit en 1948 dans le village en pleine croissance. Ont ensuite suivi un poste de soins infirmiers, une école et une station météorologique. Aujourd'hui, le village est un centre important du Nunavik. On y retrouve un aéroport, quelques hôtels, des restaurants et des magasins ainsi qu'une banque. Merci Magik
Mon beau frère est déjà aller là bas lol Très frette l'hiver Bruunnn((5++))
Terrific terrain and a top notch narrative!
Magik, c'est une belle image que vous avez créée. Kuujjuaq semble être un endroit fantastique
Beautiful work!!
pretty scene!!
Yes Dave Fantastic but COLD AS SIBERIA :) In winter could be minus 50f
Very cool work and great history
I live in the Mountains and I can never get enough of them - gorgeous.
Such a fantastic site and it looks colder than cold... Beautiful!!
wonderful work
i love Canada...it is so beautiful...like your image...and the people are so nice there... have a great evening/weekend... chills and thrills
Great image this looks cool even cold lol, well done!!
Great mountain scene.
une bien belle scene,tres bon travail instructif,j,aime boucoup tes descriptions [grace a toi ce soir, je vais me coucher moins niaiseux]
As always excellent.
Great Terragen work Magik! And as always a wonderful source of information! Thanks!
Beautiful image and terrain, MU. Corrie
how clever (again) from the americans to turn the base over and let other nations build the schools etc.
Great work on this awesome scene Magik!! Great information!!
Very nice work. Aloha
wonderful work here!
This is an excellent image and wonderful info Magik.
Fantastique paysage! Merci pour les infos.
Just one word: MARVELOUS!
Vraiment intéressant.
Great landscape!!
magnifique
Super terrain Magik :)
Good work. Well done.