Nunatsiavut

Nunatsiavut is a vast but sparsely-populated rural area in northern Labrador which comprises five widely-scattered native villages (Nain, Hopedale, Postville, Makkovik and Rigolet) and three abandoned ghost towns (Hebron, Okak and Nutak) spread across over 72,000 square kilometres of land. == Understand == This is Inuit land, vast, expansive, remote, sparsely-populated and bitterly cold in winter. In Inuttitut, Nunatsiavut means "Our Beautiful Land". It has a population of about 2,200 people (2006), and includes territory larger than the Republic of Ireland. Nunatsiavut is an autonomous area belonging to the Inuit indigenous people (formerly called "Eskimo", a term they consider to be pejorative) in Labrador. In 2005, the new Government of Nunatsiavut was established, and was given responsibility for health, education and cultural affairs. It is also responsible for holding elections for the Nunatsiavut Assembly. A primary objective of autonomy is for the preservation of the Inuit culture and language, as well as the environment through environmental stewardship. == Get in == There are no roads outside of the communities but most towns have air service of some form. The Trans-Labrador Highway leads as far as Happy Valley-Goose Bay (Inuit: Vâli), where the voyage further north is made by sea or air. Nunatsiavut Marine. Seasonal coastal ferry from Goose Bay to the various individual coastal villages, terminating in Nain. (updated Feb 2026) Air Borealis, ☏ +1 709 896-6730, fax: +1 709 896-8510. Various bush planes fly into Nunatsiavut communities from Goose Bay. (updated Feb 2026) == Get around == Nunatsiavut communities do not have dedicated taxi service. You may have luck asking your hotel or in each community's Facebook group for rides (usually $10-15/person, $5 per extra stop). In winter, the best way to get around is by snowmobile. In summer, there is a limited road network within each village; intercity transport is by coastal boat. == See == Net Loft Museum, Rigolet. A restored 1876 Hudson's Bay Company building which once housed that company's local salmon fishery. A cultural interpretation centre, the Lord Strathcona House is a replica of "the grandest house in all of Labrador" where Donald Smith (who became Lord Strathcona) lived while working with HBC. 1 Illusuak Cultural Centre, Nain (Next to the Northern Store), ☏ +1 709 922-2273. (temporarily closed with expected reopening date in May 2026). Opened in 2020, this cultural centre houses exhibits on Labrador Inuit history, culture, language, values and traditions. (updated Feb 2026) A few national historic sites commemorate the early Moravian Mission Presence in the region: Hebron Mission Station is a ghost town that was founded in 1831 and then abandoned in 1959. Hopedale Mission Complex is a group of seven historic buildings built as a Moravian mission to the Inuit which began in 1782. Okak Mission Station 2 White Elephant Museum, 16 Andersen St, Makkovik, ☏ +1 709-923-2425, +1 709-923-2262 (off-season), whiteelephant@live.ca. Jul 1-Aug 31 or by appointment off-season. While this museum has a funny name, the building in Makkovik is actually the former Moravian Mission station which established the town in 1896. It displays over 200 family relics, antiques and artifacts from and around Makkovik. (updated Mar 2026) == Do == One may visit Torngat Mountains National Park by boat or charter plane from Nain. Mealy Mountains National Park Reserve is accessible by boat from Rigolet (pop. 269), the most southerly Inuit community in the world. 1 Torngat Mountains National Park, ☏ +1 709 922-1290 (English), +1 709 458-2417 (French), toll-free: +1-888-922-1290, fax: +1 709 922-1294. 9,700 km² of mountains and wilderness extend from Saglek Fjord in the south to the northern tip of Labrador, eastward to the Labrador Sea and west to Nunavik in Québec. Icebergs, migratory caribou herds, polar bears and the highest mountain peaks east of the Rockies. 2 Mealy Mountains National Park Reserve (Innu:"Akami-uapishku", Labrador Inuit: "KakKasuak"), ☏ +1 709 458-2417. A 10,700 km2 national park reserve established 2015 to protect boreal forest, caribou, Atlantic salmon and trout, wolves, black bear, marten and fox, mountains, tundra, fjords and expansive native landscapes. A 50 km stretch of sandy beaches at the edge of the park, known since Viking times as the Wunderstrand, is suitable for hiking. Access is by boat from Rigolet or Cartwright; charter flights are available from Goose Bay. == Buy == Various native crafts (such as stone and caribou antler carvings, handmade slippers, seal skins, woven baskets and bowls) are available in the villages. == Eat == Traditionally hunting was the main source of food in this area; ptarmigan and grouse, hare, caribou, moose, ducks, goose, and seal are all harvested locally. Fishers catch salmon, arctic char, trout, smelt, cod, and snow crab. Wild birds eggs are gathered locally, along with berries such as bakeapples/cloudberry, blueberry, and partridgeberry (redberry or lingonberry). Attsanik Lodge in Nain serves breakfast ($14), salad ($12), sandwiches ($8), burgers ($14-17), cod fish ($22). (Updated Feb 2026) The few grocery stores bring in a limited selection of non-local foods (starches, fruits, vegetables and meats). As costs are higher, these items normally complement (but do not replace) local foodstuffs. == Drink == Each native community is able to establish an "alcohol committee" with the power to impose restrictions within its respective village. There is one bar (a hotel lounge) in Nain. Beer can be purchased in Nain or Hopedale. Hard liquor can’t be purchased locally, but can be ordered from Goose Bay. Natuashish voted by referendum to ban alcohol from the village entirely in 2008. The village, constructed as a $200 million planned community in 2002, was a replacement for a 1967-era shantytown at Davis Inlet with a painful history of alcoholism and addiction and all the social problems that go along with it. Please respect this history by refraining from smuggling drugs or alcohol into Natuashish. == Sleep == === Hopedale === Amaguk Inn, Hopedale, ☏ +1 709 933-3750, fax: +1 709 933-3764, amagukinn@gmail.com. Hotel with lounge and dining room, airport transportation, fax/photocopy service, Internet, room service. === Makkovik === 1 Hotel Makkovik, 7 Willow Creek Ln, ☏ +1 709 923-2389, fax: +1 709 923-2388, Hotelmakkovik@hotmail.com. Five-room inn with small restaurant serving traditional cuisines and local harvest. (updated Mar 2026) Gemma's Rental, 9 Hillview Crescent, Makkovik, ☏ +1 709-923-0000. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. 3-bedroom Airbnb entire house rental. $400/night. (updated Mar 2026) === Nain === 2 Atsanik Lodge, 13 Sand Banks Road, Nain, ☏ +1 709 922-2910, fax: +1 709 922-2815, atsanikhotel@djgrouplabrador.com. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Full-service hotel with lounge, dining room/restaurant, bar, banquet/meeting facilities, room service, airport transportation ($15/person), Starlink Internet. 26 rooms. $185-250/night. (updated Feb 2026) === Postville === North Coast Hospitality, Postville, ☏ +1 709 479-9766, fax: +1 709 479-9755, amagukinn@gmail.com. Hotel accommodation, office space, TV and internet. Jayda's Place B&B, Postville, ☏ +1 709 479-9741. Breakfast, lunch, supper, TV and Internet in rooms. === Rigolet === Blake's Efficiency Units, Rigolet, ☏ +1 709 947-3307. Four efficiency units with one or two double beds, kitchenette/living room, Internet. Sinittavik Bed & Breakfast, Rigolet, ☏ +1 709 947-3459, fax: +1 709 947-3308, sandibest@hotmail.com. Four rooms with TV, telephone, wi-fi. Airport transportation, vehicle rental, licensed guide for boat and snowmobile tours. === Torngat Mountains === Torngat Mountains Base Camp and Research Station, toll-free: +1-855-TORNGAT (8676428), basecamp@ngc-ng.ca. Seasonal tent camp outside Torngat Mountains National Park (typically open from July to September), operated by Nunatsiavut Group of Companies (Labrador Inuit Development Corporation). Boat tours, hiking guides and one helicopter. == Connect == A Bell cell phone tower exists in Nain. However, its signal does not reach the area around the airport building upon landing. There is no signal elsewhere in Nunatsiavut. == Go next == Back south to Goose Bay. Nunavik (Québec's Ungava Peninsula) and Greenland are also relatively close, but not easy to access. Mealy Mountains National Park may be accessible by boat from Rigolet – usually with the help of an outfitter – but there is no infrastructure.