In the 1995 Nunavut capital plebiscite, voters chose Iqaluit over Rankin Inlet to become the territorial capital of Nunavut.
History
A Thule site at the Meliadine River near Rankin Inlet
Archaeological sites suggest the area was inhabited around 1200 CE by Thule people who were bowhead whale hunters. By the late 18th century, they were succeeded by Kivallirmiut (Caribou Inuit) who hunted the inland barren-ground caribou, and fished for Arctic char along the coast, as well as the Diane River and Meliadine River. The Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) established itself throughout the bay in the 17th century, and after 1717, sloops from Churchill, Manitoba traded north to Rankin Inlet and beyond. There was an unfortunate expedition shipwrecked on Marble Island, 32 km (20 mi) east of Rankin Inlet: James Knight's expedition died on the island around 1722. It was surveyed by William Moor in 1747. HBC contact was followed in the mid-19th century by American and European whalers, who were followed by fur traders trapping Arctic foxes for their skins in the early 20th century, followed by missionaries who brought a written language system.[14][15]
The town itself was founded by the owners of the Rankin Inlet Mine, just north of Johnston Cove. Starting in 1957, the mine produced nickel and copperores from an underground operation. The mine was the first case of Inuit miners in Canada. When the mine closed in 1962, Rankin Inlet had a population of approximately 500 Inuit, and 70-80% had been mine workers. Several unsuccessful attempts followed to develop alternate sources of income for the town. These included a pig ranch in 1969 and a chicken-raising venture in the 1970s. Both animal groups were fed a diet of local fish, which gave the meat an unpleasant flavour. It was also common for the animals to freeze to death or be eaten by polar bears.[16]
From 1985 to 1997, Kivalliq Hall operated as a boarding school for Inuit pupils; it had been recognized as a residential school for the pre-1995 period when it was operated by the Federal government.[18][19]
In the 2021 Canadian census conducted by Statistics Canada, Rankin Inlet had a population of 2,975 living in 826 of its 1,026 total private dwellings, a change of 4.7% from its 2016 population of 2,842. With a land area of 20.03 km2 (7.73 sq mi), it had a population density of 148.5/km2 (384.7/sq mi) in 2021.[4]
Panethnic groups in the Hamlet of Rankin Inlet (2001−2021)
Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses
Arts and culture
Rankin Inlet is not only notable for its artists and artisans; it is recognized as housing the only Inuit fine-arts ceramics production facility in the world.[36] Community artists work in a variety of media including ceramics, prints, bronze castings, carvings, watercolour and drawing. The Matchbox Gallery, founded in 1987, showcases art work and provides educational resources.
The community is served by Kivalliq News, a weekly newspaper which publishes in both English and Inuktitut.
The annual spring festival Pakallak Tyme includes a fishing competition and snowmobile races.[37]
Transportation
Due to the remoteness of the community and the fact that there is no all-season road to access the community, the primary mode of year-round transportation into and out of the community is by airplane. Two passenger airlines fly into the hamlet: Calm Air and Canadian North.
The community is also serviced by sealifts originating from Montreal.
Broadband communications
The community has been served by the Qiniq network since 2005. Qiniq is a fixed wireless service to homes and businesses, connecting to the outside world via a satellite backbone. The Qiniq network is designed and operated by SSi Canada. In 2017, the network was upgraded to 4G LTE technology, and 2G-GSM for mobile voice.
Geography
Rankin Inlet is notable for the chilling wind, severe winter storms, and water resources. The Diana River empties from the north into the hamlet's namesake inlet. The Kivalliq Region has several lakes, the largest being Nipissa Lake, and is flanked by two bays, Melvin Bay on the west and Prairie Bay on the east. Paniqtoq Peninsula, on the inlet's far western shore, provides a barrier shelter for the smaller Kivalliq Region. Dozens of islands dot the inlet, including Thomson Island, the largest, and the Barrier Islands, the longest chain. These natural resources attract tourists who hunt, fish, and canoe. The Iqalugaarjuup Nunanga Territorial Park, 10 km (6.2 mi) northwest of Rankin Inlet, is notable for hiking, fishing, bird watching and Thule archaeological sites.[40][41]
Rankin Inlet
Climate
Rankin Inlet has a subarctic climate (Köppen: Dfc; Trewartha: Ecld), just short of a tundra climate. It is above the tree line. Temperatures stay below freezing from late September to early June. Although the climate is subarctic, temperatures rise and fall too rapidly and do not stay above 10 °C (50 °F) for long enough (30 days) for trees to grow. Under the alternate formula for determining the boundary between Arctic and subarctic climates posited by Otto Nordenskjöld, however, Rankin Inlet, along with Arviat and Baker Lake, qualify as Arctic based on the relationship between the temperatures of the coldest and warmest months; in the case of Rankin Inlet, with a coldest-month (January) mean of −30.1 °C (−22.2 °F), said boundary for the warmest month would be 12.0 °C (53.6 °F) using the Nordenskjöld formula and Rankin Inlet's warmest month (July) averages only 10.9 °C (51.6 °F).
Beginning on 16 January 2008, Rankin Inlet endured the longest recorded blizzard in Canada.[f] Wind speed was 74 km/h (46 mph) or above, with gusts to 90 km/h (56 mph), and wind chill values were as low as −58 °C (−72 °F). This blizzard lasted 7 days 5 hours.[43]
^Statistic includes all persons that did not make up part of a visible minority or an indigenous identity.
^Statistic includes total responses of "Filipino" and "Southeast Asian" under visible minority section on census.
^Statistic includes total responses of "Chinese", "Korean", and "Japanese" under visible minority section on census.
^Statistic includes total responses of "West Asian" and "Arab" under visible minority section on census.
^Statistic includes total responses of "Visible minority, n.i.e." and "Multiple visible minorities" under visible minority section on census.
^Environment and Climate Change Canada defines a blizzard above the tree line as a snowstorm with sustained wind speed above 40 km/h (25 mph), visibility 400 m (1,300 ft) or under and conditions will last for at least six hours.[42]
Jansen, William Hugh. Eskimo Economics An Aspect of Culture Change at Rankin Inlet. Mercury series. Ottawa: National Museums of Canada, 1979.
Mallon, S. T. Inuktitut, Rankin Inlet Version. Yellowknife, N.W.T.: Dept. of Education, 1974.
Shirley, James R., and Darlene Wight. Rankin Inlet Ceramics. Winnipeg: Winnipeg Art Gallery, 2003. ISBN0-88915-224-1
Watson, Linvill. Television Among Inuit of Keewatin The Rankin Inlet Experience. Saskatoon, [Sask.]: Institute for Northern Studies, University of Saskatoon, 1977.
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