Aklavik, Northwest Territories

Infobox Settlement
name = Aklavik
native_name = Akłarvik
other_name =Location map polarx
CanadaGeo
caption =
lon_shift = 4.1
label=Aklavik
label-size=70 | lat_skew=1.2
background = #DDDD22
position=top
lat = 68.22
long = -135.0
mark=Green_pog.svg
marksize=6
width=250
float=right
settlement_type = Hamlet
motto = "Never Say Die"


imagesize =
image_caption =


flag_size =
image_

seal_size =
image_shield =
shield_size =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Canada
subdivision_type1 = Territory
subdivision_name1 = Northwest Territories
subdivision_type2 = Region
subdivision_name2 = Inuvik Region
subdivision_type3 = Constituency
subdivision_name3 = Mackenzie Delta
subdivision_type4 = Census division
subdivision_name4 = Inuvik Region, Northwest Territories
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Knute Hansen
leader_title1 = Senior Administrative Officer
leader_name1 = Evelyn Storr
leader_title2 = MLA
leader_name2 = David Krutko
established_title = Incorporated (hamlet)
established_date = 1 January 1974
area_land_km2 = 8.16
elevation_m = 7
latd= 68.22955
longd=-134.99007
population_total = 594
population_density_km2 = 72.8
timezone = Mountain (MST)
utc_offset = −7
timezone_DST = MDT
utc_offset_DST = −6
postal_code_type = Canadian Postal code
postal_code = X0E 0A0
area_code = 867
blank_name = Telephone exchange
blank_info = 978
footnotes = Sources:
Community Governance Data List,
2006 Canada Census [http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/profiles/community/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=6107025&Geo2=PR&Code2=61&Data=Count&SearchText=Aklavik&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&GeoLevel=&GeoCode=6107025 2006 Canada Census] ] ,
Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre,
Canada Flight Supplement [CFS]

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. [http://www.maca.gov.nt.ca/governments/printpage.asp?Other=FALSE Community Governance Data List] ]

Demographics

The population is 594, 545 of which are aboriginal, according to the 2006 Census, a decrease of 6.0% from 2001. [http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/profiles/community/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=6107025&Geo2=PR&Code2=61&Data=Count&SearchText=Aklavik&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&GeoLevel=&GeoCode=6107025 2006 Canada Census] ] 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. [ [http://www12.statcan.ca/english/Profil01/AP01/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=6107025&Geo2=PR&Code2=61&Data=Count&SearchText=Aklavik&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&GeoLevel=&GeoCode=6107025 2001 Canada Census - Aboriginal population] ] 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. [ [http://www.assembly.gov.nt.ca/_live/pages/wpPages/mapaklavik.aspx Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, Aklavik profile] ]

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. [http://www.pwnhc.ca/programs/downloads/OfficialCommunityNames.pdf Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre - official names] ]

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. [http://www.bdec.nt.ca/bsite/schools.html Moose Kerr School at the Beaufort-Delta Education Council] ]

Today

The community has a school with approximately 150 students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 [ [http://www.windowsaroundtheworld.org/participating_schools.aspx#mk Moose Kerr School at Windows Around the World] ] and Aurora College provides adult education at the Community Learning Centre. [http://www.stats.gov.nt.ca/Infrastructure/Inf_Profiles/Aklavik(i).pdf Infrastructure Profile] ] Northwestel phone directory]

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, [WAS] 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

* [http://www.stats.gov.nt.ca/Infrastructure/Comm%20Sheets/Aklavik.html Aklavik at the GNWT]
* [http://www.maca.gov.nt.ca/governments/communityresult.asp?ComCode=401 Municipal Affairs and Community Administration profile]
* Area map of Aklavik/Inuvik: [http://jproc.ca/rrp/akla_map.gifAklavik-area-map] .