Project Summary

The Kitikmeot Heritage Society (KHS) will research the history of the fur trade in the Kitikmeot Region of Nunavut. This research will focus on the lives of individual traders and in particular, Angulaalik (Stephen Angulalik), highlighting his life’s work with the Hudson’s Bay Company, Canalaska Trading Company and as the first Inuit free trader. This research will be used to develop a historical exhibit for the May Hakongak Community Library and Cultural Centre. It will also be used to develop educational materials for the local schools and the general public.

Project Goal

To provide students, community members and visitors with information and resources on the history of the fur trade in the Kitikmeot. These resources will be based on accurate historical research, traditional knowledge and oral histories relating to this important aspect of our more recent history.

Project Objectives

1. To collect published and unpublished historical and ethnographic materials as well as transcripts, sound and video recordings and photographs relating to the fur trade in the Kitikmeot.
2. Using this information, to develop the preliminary design for a permanent exhibit on the fur trade for the May Hakongak Community Library and Cultural Centre.
3. To put together a collection of photographs on the history of the fur trade. These photos will be added to the albums currently on display in the Cultural Centre and will be used to create a photographic exhibit.
4. To make this information immediately available to students and others through the library and cultural centre and to use the information for the development of future publications and an educational web site.

Project Need

In 1990, staff and volunteers at the May Hakongak Community Library were determined to make the library more accessible to the local community. It was felt that more culturally relevant material, written in Inuinnaqtun, and more non-text materials should be available. The Library developed some of its own materials through oral history project funding. Transcripts in English and Inuinnaqtun, historical photographs, and videos of Elders talking were made available through the Library.

In 1995 the public library moved into Kiilinik High School combining with the school library. Public library staff and volunteers continued to develop oral history materials, which were distributed through the library. As a result of these efforts, during the period from 1990 to 1995, library statistical data showed that library use increased from an average of 300 people per month to 1000. As this work became more important to the community, the KHS was formed and incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1995.