Grise Fiord, Nunavut

The Inuit settlement of Grise Fiord (pop. 163), in the territory of Nunavut, was the northernmost permanent settlement of Canada and the world for a long time. It is located at the southern tip of Ellesmere Island, and is one of three permanent settlements on the island. Grise Fiord lies 720 miles above the Arctic Circle. Grise Fiord was eclipsed by Alert as the world's northernmost community when Environment Canada and the Canadian Forces began to station permanent personnel there.

Related Topics:
Inuit - Nunavut - Canada - Ellesmere Island - Arctic Circle - Alert - Environment Canada - Canadian Forces

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Grise Fiord's Inuit name is "Aujuittuq" which means "place that never thaws." Grise Fiord means "pig fiord" in Norwegian. The settlement was created by the Canadian government in the 1950s to assert sovereignty, and compelled Inuit living in the southern Hudson Bay region to relocate, promising homes and wildlife (for food), but the relocated people discovered nothing and very little familiar wildlife. In 1970, Bell Canada established what was then the world's most northerly telephone exchange (operated since 1992 by NorthwesTel).

Related Topics:
Inuit - 1950s - Hudson Bay - 1970 - Bell Canada - Telephone - 1992 - NorthwesTel

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Grise Fiord is served by Grise Fiord Airport.

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Other settlements on Ellesmere Island are Alert and Eureka.

Related Topics:
Alert - Eureka

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