Ahiarmiut facts for kids

The Ahiarmiut (pronounced ihalmi-oot) are a group of Inuit people. Their name means "People from Beyond" or "the Out-of-the-Way Dwellers." They traditionally lived inland along the Kazan River, Ennadai Lake, and Little Dubawnt Lake in what is now the Kivalliq Region of Nunavut, northern Canada.

For many years, the Ahiarmiut faced difficult times. Starting in 1949, the Canadian government moved them from their homes several times. These moves were part of a government plan for Inuit communities. An Ahiarmiut elder named David Serkoak has worked for decades to share their story and seek justice. In 2018, the Ahiarmiut and the Canadian government reached an agreement. The government paid $5 million as a settlement for these forced relocations.

Who are the Inland Inuit?

The Ahiarmiut are part of the Caribou Inuit. These are Inuit groups who lived away from the coast, deep in the land. They were known for living in the "Barren Lands" region. Their lives depended almost entirely on hunting barren-ground caribou all year round. This was different from other Inuit groups who also hunted sea animals.

Ahiarmiut History

In the late 1800s, explorers like Joseph Tyrrell reported that about 2,000 Caribou Inuit lived in the area. By 1934, there were about 80 Ahiarmiut. They had limited contact with Europeans. They sometimes traded with the Hudson's Bay Company at their trading posts. They would trade items like their outer parkas, deerskin boots, and fur pelts for guns, ammunition, and tea.

Researchers later found old documents that showed the Inuit living near Ennadai Lake were called the Ennadai Lake Inuit. In the summer of 1956, there were 30 adults and 25 children in their camps.

Forced Relocations

In the mid-1900s, the Canadian government began moving the Ahiarmiut. The government wanted to clear the land for its own operations. They also wanted to bring Inuit populations together under government control. These moves caused great hardship for the Ahiarmiut.

• 1949: The Ahiarmiut were moved from Ennadai Lake to Nueltin Lake. But hunting was poor there, so they returned to Ennadai Lake.
• May 1957: The Ahiarmiut were flown from Ennadai Lake to Henik Lake. Many Ahiarmiut faced starvation because of this move.
• Later in 1957: The Ahiarmiut were moved again, this time to Whale Cove. Some started carving small figures to earn money.
• 1958: Some Ahiarmiut went to the Padlei trading post. Others were taken to Eskimo Point, now called Arviat, by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
• 1959: The Padlei trading post closed. The remaining Ahiarmiut were moved once more.

Government Apology

In 2018, the Ahiarmiut and the Canadian government reached a settlement of $5 million. This was for the forced relocations that happened between 1949 and 1959.

On January 22, 2019, the Canadian Government formally apologized to 21 survivors and their families. This apology took place in Arviat, Nunavut. Carolyn Bennett, the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, delivered the apology. She said the forced moves were due to a "colonial mindset." She added that they caused "indignity, starvation and death."

She said: "This apology is a tribute to their spirits and their memories. It is also an opportunity for all Canadians to learn about and reflect upon a dark chapter in our history. I humbly and sincerely offer these words to all Ahiarmiut past and present. We are sorry."

The Minister also apologized for how long it took to give the apology. When the legal claim was first made, 27 Ahiarmiut survivors were still alive. By the time of the apology, only 21 remained.

Media Attention

The Ahiarmiut gained attention in magazines. A photo of Stephen Angulalik and his wives appeared in Life magazine in 1937. An Ennadai Lake family was even on the cover of Life magazine in 1956. The caption called them "Stone Age Survivors."

Decades later, Ahiarmiut stories were shared in documentaries. Elisapee Karetak made films in 2000 and 2002. These films told the story of her people's struggles and starvation during the 1950s relocations. They also told the story of her mother, Kikkik, at Henik Lake.

Farley Mowat's Books

Farley Mowat was a popular author who wrote several books about the Ahiarmiut. He was known for his "creative non-fiction." This means his stories were based on real events but sometimes included made-up details. Mowat himself said that facts were not as important as the story.

Four of Mowat's books were inspired by the Ahiarmiut:

• People of the Deer (1952)
• The Desperate People (1959)
• Death of a People—the Ihalmiut (1975)
• Walking on the Land (2001)
• No Man's River (2004)

While Mowat's books helped bring attention to the Ahiarmiut, some researchers note that he did not always cite his sources. He also misspelled the name Ahiarmiut as Ihalmiut.

See Also

• Forced displacement