GROWING THE TOWN OF INUVIK , NWT, CA

INUVIK



The town where about 3,500 people reside and work in the far Northwestern Territory of Canada is on the move.  At he end of the Dempster Highway a driver has seen no homes, buildings or infrastructure like street lights phone lines and including fuel, since Fort McPherson, over 100 miles south.  Before that was the Lodge at Eagle Plains 60 miles further south. The Tombstone Regional Park camping , no gas or stores, and a few scattered hunting outfitters are yet another 150 miles south. After Tombstone nothing until Dawson City another 110 miles.  My point is we thought there was nothing out there.

Dan and I arrived in Inuvik in the month of July, summer, not knowing what to expect.  Driving into the town showed some businesses and homes with lots of machinery scattered about, some looking like it was viable for use but a great deal seemed to have been part of the scenery for a long time. Buildings are small and look closed in.  All around were reminders that sometimes the weather would have to be coped with and only sometimes is the winter weather enjoyed!  Homes are built on stilts, north facing walls may have no windows and doors are solid and built without light infusing windows. Snow mobiles lay about in  already crowded yards.



I had read in our guidebooks that Inuvik is a place to prepare to go on to other places in the Arctic; Hereshal Island, at least three huge Regional Parks that border the Arctic Ice at the Beaufort Delta. and aboriginal guides are needed for any exploration.  There are mining and gas and oil interests that employ the small planes from the small International Airport to move around the Arctic and huge transportation trucks that supply the town and the few villages beyond.  Road building in the shifting permafrost is ongoing to places like Aklavik and Tot

On main street there is a grocery store, one or two outfitting stores with small posters or handwritten signs to tourists about kayak or canoe travel, airplane deliveries to fishing and hunting areas.  A very attractive and informative visitors center is also on main street and a well volumed library with terrific wifi.

Entering the town was fascinating and we started discussing how this remote town could survive and be growing so very far away from amenities.  I have prepared information from the web and the NWT newspaper for you to explore this community.

We only spent three days after traveling all the way on the Dempster, but the town and the Arctic and their possibilities are still in my thoughts.

See below to see a few pictures of the town and visitors center.  We must have been really busy as we have only a few shots-  so follow links after.

Inuvik Domed church

License plate- remember I am here in summer!

Community College

The greenhouse- tourists may visit the research on growing year round.

A traveling food truck.  They served reindeer- not caribou, as well as chicken and great French fries.

Main Street

They have a modern library with wifi and this incredible Visitor Center where culture and artistic works are on display and you can catch a bush plane to go hunting, fishing or site-seeing.

Carved from caribou antler

Beadwork on caribou

The king of it all.  The Porcupine caribou herd.  Now down to a few thousand from 10's of thousands.

Check out these photo and official town websites.  This one has many links to follow such as "video, or aboriginal day," Follow the links to see winter scenes at below zero temperatures.

SORRY PROBABLY ALL LINKS BELOW ARE EXPIRED BUT JUST PERUSE  INUVIK, ALASKA

http://www.inuvik.ca/en/town-hall/resources/Inuvik-Economic-Development-Strategy-March-2015.pdf  

One exciting area of growth in the town is the remote sensing satellite facility where in partnership with European interests, the Canadian government and NWT government and local interests have commitments to invest millions of dollars into this major research facility.

http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/earth-sciences/geomatics/satellite-imagery-air-photos/satellite-facilities/ISSF/10953

We read about this plan in the Regional newspaper.  Michael Miltenberger, NWT Finance Minister said of the meetings held in Europe concerning the Inuvik satellite facility. "Big countries, strong powerful countries with huge space programs, they all want to come to Inuvik"

According to a lengthy newspaper report  many have committed to installing many more satellite dishes in and around Inuvik.  Sweden, Germany and the European Space Agency, and Italy are involved as is Norway.  Much more can be learned at
http://norj.ca/2015/06/europe-trip-lands-new-deals-for-inuvik-satellite-facility/ http://norj.ca/2015/06/europe-trip-lands-new-deals-for-inuvik-satellite-facility/


The newspapers show how difficult setting priorities when many interests are at stake.  Mining and gas and oil interests play a very large part in the economy but a very large part in the destruction of fragile environment. Additionally the Inuvik and other first people bands, control lands by their own governmental policies and don't agree to many of the proposals on their land backed by the Canadian government and the government agency of the Northwest Territory.

I took no pictures at the RV campsite.  It was not spacious and just out in a field.  No beautiful scenery there.  On down the Dempster Highway after three days heading back to Dawson City, YT.