Harvaqtuurmiut
Encyclopedia
Harvaqtuurmiut were a Caribou Inuit
society in Nunavut
, Canada
. Predominantly, their inland existence was along the lower Kazan River section, by Thirty Mile Lake, that they called Harvaqtuuq. In 1995, the lower Kazan River area, an important crossing area for the Kaminuriak caribou herd as well as the traditional territory and ancestral home of Harvaqtuurmiut, was designated the Fall Caribou Crossing National Historic Site.
. In addition to the lower Kazan River area, they also occupied areas below Yathkyed Lake
, below the Kunwak River
, and inland to Beverly Lake
and the lower Dubawnt River. Historically, the land of the Harvaqtuurmiut was also a gathering place for people from other places because the Kazan River is a fall caribou crossing area.
Population estimates in 1918 were 186, but down to 71 in 1922. By the early 1980s, most had moved to Baker Lake
.
While they engaged in the fur trade
, their primary focus was the Barren-ground Caribou
as they relied on it for subsistence and it determined where they built their homes. They specialized in hunting at autumn river-crossings. They used kayaks characterized as being sleek and of well made design.
The Harvaqtuurmiut society had its own traditions. Niqaptaq was a goose hunting ritual involving strings with bones ties at the ends that were spun overhead and when they wrapped around a goose's neck, the goose fell to the ground. They used moss smoke in their tents as a mosquito repellent. Dried moss, collected in the summer, was used as a fuel lighting mechanism.
Drum dances might be incorporated into asking questions of Shamans. Drum dancing movement is up to the individual and might include bending at the knee, moving in a circle, standing still, moving in a procession, moving back and forth, running, or jumping. According to Rasmussen (1927), the Harvaqtuurmiut believed in Pinga
, an Inuit
female spirit, who was watchful of people's conduct, rewarding and punishing them based on how they behaved.
Harvaqtuurmiut followed five seasons: Upinraqhaaq (a time of snow melt), Upinraaq (July and early August), Aujahajuq or Aujaq (mid-August to September), Ukiaqhaq or Ukiaq (October to early November), and Ukiuq (mid-November to April).
Caribou Inuit
Caribou Inuit, Barren-ground Caribou hunters, are bands of inland Inuit who lived west of Hudson Bay in northern Canada's Keewatin Region of the Northwest Territories, now the Kivalliq Region of present-day Nunavut between 61° and 65° N and 90° and 102° W...
society in Nunavut
Nunavut
Nunavut is the largest and newest federal territory of Canada; it was separated officially from the Northwest Territories on April 1, 1999, via the Nunavut Act and the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act, though the actual boundaries had been established in 1993...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Predominantly, their inland existence was along the lower Kazan River section, by Thirty Mile Lake, that they called Harvaqtuuq. In 1995, the lower Kazan River area, an important crossing area for the Kaminuriak caribou herd as well as the traditional territory and ancestral home of Harvaqtuurmiut, was designated the Fall Caribou Crossing National Historic Site.
History
In the 19th and 20th centuries, Harvaqtuurmiut and others lived in the interior west of Hudson BayHudson Bay
Hudson Bay , sometimes called Hudson's Bay, is a large body of saltwater in northeastern Canada. It drains a very large area, about , that includes parts of Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Alberta, most of Manitoba, southeastern Nunavut, as well as parts of North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota,...
. In addition to the lower Kazan River area, they also occupied areas below Yathkyed Lake
Yathkyed Lake
Yathkyed Lake is a lake in Kivalliq Region, Nunavut, Canada. Located between Angikuni Lake and Forde Lake, it is one of several lakes on the Kazan River....
, below the Kunwak River
Kunwak River
The Kunwak River is a river of Nunavut, Canada. Historically the Kunwak has been inhabited by the Inuit peoples.The Harvaqtuurmiut are also known to have made their homes along the river....
, and inland to Beverly Lake
Beverly Lake (Nunavut)
Beverly Lake is a lake in Kivalliq Region, Nunavut, Canada. It is located north of the Arctic tree line about northwest of Baker Lake, Nunavut. The western half of the lake is within Thelon Wildlife Sanctuary. The Thelon River, at the confluence with the Dubawnt River, empties into the lake's...
and the lower Dubawnt River. Historically, the land of the Harvaqtuurmiut was also a gathering place for people from other places because the Kazan River is a fall caribou crossing area.
Population estimates in 1918 were 186, but down to 71 in 1922. By the early 1980s, most had moved to Baker Lake
Baker Lake, Nunavut
Baker Lake , is a hamlet in the Kivalliq Region, in Nunavut on mainland Canada. Located inland from Hudson Bay, it is near the nation's geographical centre, and is notable for being the Canadian Arctic's sole inland community...
.
Culture
Their cultural and linguistic traditions were shared with the Ahiarmiut, Hauniqtuurmiut, Paallirmiut, and Qairnirmiut. By the 19th century, the Harvaqtuurmiut and the Qairnirmiut were known to live inland and to the north. While according to Vallee (1962), they were known to rarely visit the coast and on those occasions, they came to trade but did not hunt sea mammals, Kuoljok (1969) stated that sea mammals held some importance during the summer for the Harvaqtuurmiut.While they engaged in the fur trade
Fur trade
The fur trade is a worldwide industry dealing in the acquisition and sale of animal fur. Since the establishment of world market for in the early modern period furs of boreal, polar and cold temperate mammalian animals have been the most valued...
, their primary focus was the Barren-ground Caribou
Barren-ground Caribou
Barren-ground Caribou is a subspecies of the caribou that is found mainly in the Canadian territories Nunavut and the Northwest Territories and western Greenland. It sometimes includes the similar porcupine caribou, in which case the barren-ground caribou also is found in Alaska...
as they relied on it for subsistence and it determined where they built their homes. They specialized in hunting at autumn river-crossings. They used kayaks characterized as being sleek and of well made design.
The Harvaqtuurmiut society had its own traditions. Niqaptaq was a goose hunting ritual involving strings with bones ties at the ends that were spun overhead and when they wrapped around a goose's neck, the goose fell to the ground. They used moss smoke in their tents as a mosquito repellent. Dried moss, collected in the summer, was used as a fuel lighting mechanism.
Drum dances might be incorporated into asking questions of Shamans. Drum dancing movement is up to the individual and might include bending at the knee, moving in a circle, standing still, moving in a procession, moving back and forth, running, or jumping. According to Rasmussen (1927), the Harvaqtuurmiut believed in Pinga
Pinga
In Inuit mythology, Pinga was a goddess of the hunt, fertility and medicine. She was also the psychopomp, bringing souls of the newly-dead to Adlivun, the underworld....
, an Inuit
Inuit
The Inuit are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Canada , Denmark , Russia and the United States . Inuit means “the people” in the Inuktitut language...
female spirit, who was watchful of people's conduct, rewarding and punishing them based on how they behaved.
Harvaqtuurmiut followed five seasons: Upinraqhaaq (a time of snow melt), Upinraaq (July and early August), Aujahajuq or Aujaq (mid-August to September), Ukiaqhaq or Ukiaq (October to early November), and Ukiuq (mid-November to April).