Nunavik: Québec’s Far North

Nunavik’s main town of Kuujjuaq—population 2,700—is easy to reach on a 2-hour flight north from Montréal. The region’s total population of close to 14,000 is 90 percent Inuit, warmly welcoming visitors for an authentic experience among their ancient and vibrant traditions. The 13 other remote communities, accessible only by small plane, boat, snowmobile or dogsled, are cultural outposts for exploring the wilderness and wildlife in the company of knowledgeable local guides (www.nunavik-tourism.com).

CULTURE AND TRADITIONS

The Inuit are proud of their heritage and eager to share their legends, stories and unique traditions such as throat singing, drum dancing and Indigenous sports and games. Meet locals and try char, a delicious Arctic salmon. Go berry picking with ladies and kids in summer. Learn a few Inuktitut words. Create indelible memories watching a beluga whale emerge from a block of soapstone in a carver’s hands. Dogsled over frozen ocean. Sample raw caribou meat. Sleep in an igloo you’ve helped build (www.inuitadventures.com).

ARCTIC LANDSCAPES

Nunavik’s diverse topography is a magnet for outdoor enthusiasts from beginners to experts. Trek, stroll or climb; whitewater raft, backcountry ski or snowshoe. Paddle down a river in a canoe or on an inland sea by kayak —an Inuit invention. There are three spectacular national parks to discover including Pingualuit, where a perfectly round crater from an ancient meteor strike is filled with pristine water. Kuururjuaq National Park boasts North America’s highest peaks east of the Rockies amid the rugged spires of the Torngat Mountains, and in Tursujuq National Park there are inland seas and dramatic cuesta ridges to explore (www.nunavikparks.ca).

ARCTIC WILDLIFE

Be sure to pack binoculars and a camera to track and capture Nunavik’s Arctic wildlife. Board a freighter canoe to watch for seals and whales, including pods of white belugas. Spot icebergs drifting offshore. Search for polar bears prowling their coastal habitat. Trek the tundra to go meet a herd of muskox straight out of the ice age, or the elusive tundra wolves, Arctic foxes and hares. Witness the summer migration of one of the biggest caribou herds in the world. Then end the day with an endless sunset, followed by a technicolour show of northern lights shimmying across the night sky (www.inuitadventures.com).

A fascinating Northern gem with a wealth of natural and cultural offerings, Nunavik is easy-access Arctic, a gateway to a hospitable, exotic and largely undiscovered corner of Canada.

TORNGAT MOUNTAINS IN KUURURJUAQ NATIONAL PARK • PATRICK GRAILLON Stretching north of Québec’s 55th parallel and covering almost a third of the province’s area is the vast and wild Arctic region of Nunavik, a majestic landscape of tundra, jagged peaks, broad glacial valleys and spectacular lakes and coastlines.