Nain, Newfoundland and Labrador
Encyclopedia
Nain or Naina is the northernmost town of any size in the Canadian
province of Newfoundland and Labrador
, located about 370 kilometres by air from Happy Valley-Goose Bay
. The town was established as a Moravian mission in 1771 by Jens Haven
and other missionaries. The current population is 1,034, predominantly Inuit
and mixed Inuit-European.
which is the name chosen by the Labrador Inuit
when the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement Act was successfully ratified by the Canadian Government and the Inuit of Labrador. Hopedale
, further south, is the legislative capital. The land claim cedes limited self-rule for the Nunatsiavut government in Northern Labrador and North-Eastern Quebec
, granting title and aboriginal rights. The land that composes the Nunatsiavut government is called the Labrador Inuit Settlement Area, or LISA, which amount to approximately 72,500 km2 (28,000miles2). The Inuit of Labrador do not own this land per se, but they do have special rights related to traditional land use as aboriginals. That said, the Labrador Inuit will own 15,000 km2 (6,100miles2) within the Settlement Area, officially designated as Labrador Inuit Lands. The Agreement also provides for the establishment of the Torngat Mountains National Park Reserve, consisting of about 9600 square kilometres (3,706.6 sq mi) of land within LISA. Nunatsiavut is not to be confused with the Nunavut
territory.
Many Inuit
from Hebron
were relocated to Nain by the provincial government after the Moravian mission at Hebron was closed under government pressure in 1959.
but Nain's harbour is protected by numerous islands, the largest of which is Paul's Island
. From Nain to the open Labrador Sea
is approximately 50 km east through Strathcona Run. Nain is inaccessible by road and may be reached only by air or sea.
in Europe, the influence of the Labrador Current
gives Nain a borderline subarctic
/polar climate (Dfc/ET) and creates the southernmost tree line in the northern hemisphere on the adjacent coast, although the southernmost tundra
is actually still in a zone of discontinuous permafrost rather than the much more typical continuous zone. The almost constant presence of the Icelandic Low
means that precipitation, both as rain and snow, is exceptionally heavy for so consistently cold a climate in a low-lying area, with five metres of snow falling each winter and not melting until July. The actual depth of snow on the ground averages 1.13 metres (44 in) at the end of March.
The Town Council formally changed its name from "Nain Town Council" to "Nain Inuit Community Government" in October 2006. The Nain Inuit Community Government meets once per month.
, and are available from Happy Valley-Goose Bay on Air Labrador
and Provincial Airlines
.
Between mid-June and mid-November (pending ice conditions), there is also a ferry service operated by the Newfoundland and Labrador Government. The ferry boat is the M/V Northern Ranger and provides weekly service http://www.tw.gov.nl.ca/ferryservices/schedules/H-goosebay-nain.stm from Goose Bay along the Atlantic Coast, with stops in Rigolet, Makkovik, Postville
, Hopedale
and Natuashish. Nain is the northernmost stop on the route; the ferry stays docked at Nain for about three hours before beginning its southbound route.
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...
province of Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
, located about 370 kilometres by air from Happy Valley-Goose Bay
Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador
Happy Valley – Goose Bay is a Canadian town in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.Located in the central part of Labrador, the town is the largest population centre in that region. Incorporated in 1973, the town composes the former town of Happy Valley and the Local Improvement District of...
. The town was established as a Moravian mission in 1771 by Jens Haven
Jens Haven
Jens Haven was a Moravian missionary and the prime mover behind the founding of the Moravian missions in Labrador....
and other missionaries. The current population is 1,034, predominantly 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...
and mixed Inuit-European.
History
On December 1, 2005, Nain became the administrative capital of the autonomous region of NunatsiavutNunatsiavut
Nunatsiavut is an autonomous area claimed by the Inuit in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The settlement area includes territory in Labrador extending to the Quebec border. In 2002, the Labrador Inuit Association submitted a proposal for limited autonomy to the government of Newfoundland and...
which is the name chosen by the Labrador 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...
when the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement Act was successfully ratified by the Canadian Government and the Inuit of Labrador. Hopedale
Hopedale, Newfoundland and Labrador
Hopedale is a town located in the North of Labrador, the mainland portion of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Hopedale is the legislative capital of the Inuit Land Claims Area Nunatsiavut, and where the Nunatsiavut Assembly meets...
, further south, is the legislative capital. The land claim cedes limited self-rule for the Nunatsiavut government in Northern Labrador and North-Eastern Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, granting title and aboriginal rights. The land that composes the Nunatsiavut government is called the Labrador Inuit Settlement Area, or LISA, which amount to approximately 72,500 km2 (28,000miles2). The Inuit of Labrador do not own this land per se, but they do have special rights related to traditional land use as aboriginals. That said, the Labrador Inuit will own 15,000 km2 (6,100miles2) within the Settlement Area, officially designated as Labrador Inuit Lands. The Agreement also provides for the establishment of the Torngat Mountains National Park Reserve, consisting of about 9600 square kilometres (3,706.6 sq mi) of land within LISA. Nunatsiavut is not to be confused with the 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...
territory.
Many 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...
from Hebron
Hebron, Newfoundland and Labrador
Hebron is the name of a former Moravian mission that was the northernmost settlement in Labrador. Founded in 1831, the mission disbanded in 1959. Abraham Ulrikab and his family were from Hebron and they were exhibited in zoos in Europe in 1880....
were relocated to Nain by the provincial government after the Moravian mission at Hebron was closed under government pressure in 1959.
Geography
Nain is located on the north side of Unity Bay, a small inlet. The bay is open to the Atlantic OceanAtlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
but Nain's harbour is protected by numerous islands, the largest of which is Paul's Island
Paul's Island
Paul's Island or Paul Island is an island off the coast of Labrador, near the town of Nain in Canada.The island is the geological type area of the mineral labradorite, which is a plagioclase feldspar. Labradorite is the principal component of the igneous rock type anorthosite...
. From Nain to the open Labrador Sea
Labrador Sea
The Labrador Sea is an arm of the North Atlantic Ocean between the Labrador Peninsula and Greenland. The sea is flanked by continental shelves to the southwest, northwest, and northeast. It connects to the north with Baffin Bay through the Davis Strait...
is approximately 50 km east through Strathcona Run. Nain is inaccessible by road and may be reached only by air or sea.
Climate
Although located at the same latitude as Ketchikan on North America’s west coast or MoscowMoscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
in Europe, the influence of the Labrador Current
Labrador Current
The Labrador Current is a cold current in the North Atlantic Ocean which flows from the Arctic Ocean south along the coast of Labrador and passes around Newfoundland, continuing south along the east coast of Nova Scotia...
gives Nain a borderline subarctic
Subarctic climate
The subarctic climate is a climate characterized by long, usually very cold winters, and short, cool to mild summers. It is found on large landmasses, away from the moderating effects of an ocean, generally at latitudes from 50° to 70°N poleward of the humid continental climates...
/polar climate (Dfc/ET) and creates the southernmost tree line in the northern hemisphere on the adjacent coast, although the southernmost tundra
Tundra
In physical geography, tundra is a biome where the tree growth is hindered by low temperatures and short growing seasons. The term tundra comes through Russian тундра from the Kildin Sami word tūndâr "uplands," "treeless mountain tract." There are three types of tundra: Arctic tundra, alpine...
is actually still in a zone of discontinuous permafrost rather than the much more typical continuous zone. The almost constant presence of the Icelandic Low
Icelandic Low
The Icelandic Low is a semi-permanent centre of low atmospheric pressure found between Iceland and southern Greenland and extending in the Northern Hemisphere winter into the Barents Sea. In summer it weakens and splits into two centres, one near Davis Strait and the other west of Iceland...
means that precipitation, both as rain and snow, is exceptionally heavy for so consistently cold a climate in a low-lying area, with five metres of snow falling each winter and not melting until July. The actual depth of snow on the ground averages 1.13 metres (44 in) at the end of March.
Local government
The town is governed by a seven member council composed of a mayor (or AngajukKâk), deputy mayor (Deputy AngajukKâk), and five councilors. In 2004 Sarah Erikson was the mayor with George Lyall as deputy mayor, while the remaining councilors were Mary White, Isabella Pain, Margaret Fox, Duane Dicker, and Jacob Larkin.The Town Council formally changed its name from "Nain Town Council" to "Nain Inuit Community Government" in October 2006. The Nain Inuit Community Government meets once per month.
Industry
Fishing is the main industry in Nain. Traditional hunting and trapping activities continue through the winter months after the fishing season has ended.Transport
Flights to Nain are at Nain AirportNain Airport
Nain Airport is located on the shore of Unity Bay near Nain, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.-Airlines and destinations:Civil...
, and are available from Happy Valley-Goose Bay on Air Labrador
Air Labrador
Labrador Airways Limited, operating as Air Labrador, is a regional airline based in Goose Bay , Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It operates scheduled daily passenger and freight services throughout Labrador and Quebec, as well as charter operations with the options of landing in remote and off...
and Provincial Airlines
Provincial Airlines
Provincial Airlines is an airline based in St John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It operates passenger and cargo services, maritime surveillance and remote sensing and environmental monitoring operations. Its main base is St. John's International Airport. - History :The airline was...
.
Between mid-June and mid-November (pending ice conditions), there is also a ferry service operated by the Newfoundland and Labrador Government. The ferry boat is the M/V Northern Ranger and provides weekly service http://www.tw.gov.nl.ca/ferryservices/schedules/H-goosebay-nain.stm from Goose Bay along the Atlantic Coast, with stops in Rigolet, Makkovik, Postville
Postville, Newfoundland and Labrador
Postville is a town in the north of Labrador, Canada. It has a population of about 250. It is located 25 - 30 km into the interior of Kaipokok Bay, 110 air miles north-northeast of Goose Bay. Postville Airport is nearby....
, Hopedale
Hopedale, Newfoundland and Labrador
Hopedale is a town located in the North of Labrador, the mainland portion of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Hopedale is the legislative capital of the Inuit Land Claims Area Nunatsiavut, and where the Nunatsiavut Assembly meets...
and Natuashish. Nain is the northernmost stop on the route; the ferry stays docked at Nain for about three hours before beginning its southbound route.