About Naujaat

Formerly called Repulse Bay, Naujaat means "seagull nesting place" in Inuktitut. Naujaat is located on the Arctic Circle, at N66 32' W85 50'. Surrounding Repulse Bay there are countless inuksuit (plural of inukshuk). These rocks piled on top of each other in the shape of a human, and other forms, are referred to in English as stone cairns. Some of these inuksuit were built hundreds or thousands of years ago by Inuit to show where they had traveled, or to mark good fishing and/or hunting locations. The landscape is dotted with scenic inlets and rolling hills, some of which are snow-covered year round.

Before 1964, Repulse Bay consisted of a Hudson Bay Company store and a Roman Catholic Mission building. The Inuit of the area lived in small camps and came into Repulse Bay for supplies and to trade at the Bay store. In 1964 the first houses came. These houses were small one-room dwellings, often referred to as "matchbox houses". As the number of people moving into the community increased, so to did the demand for additional housing.

In 1968, the Federal Department of Indian and Northern Affairs launched a major building program that included Tusarvik School, 20 three-bedroom houses for local Inuit people, and three staff houses for government employees coming from outside of the community. They also constructed a power plant, three bay garage, a warehouse, and two bulk oil storage tanks.

Along with time comes great change. In 1989, the Hudson Bay store became the Northern store. In 2002, the first permanent RCMP officers were stationed in Repulse Bay. There is now mining exploration taking place outside of the community, and there has been a drilling camp established approximately seven kilometers from town.

Population: 1,049