kids encyclopedia robot

Flaherty Island facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Flaherty Island
Sanikiluaq rocks -e.jpg
Flaherty Island from the air, looking south.
Flaherty Island is located in Nunavut
Flaherty Island
Flaherty Island
Location in Nunavut
Flaherty Island is located in Canada
Flaherty Island
Flaherty Island
Location in Canada
Geography
Location Hudson Bay
Coordinates 56°21′29″N 079°14′55″W / 56.35806°N 79.24861°W / 56.35806; -79.24861 (Flaherty Island)
Archipelago Belcher Islands
Arctic Archipelago
Length 7.1 km (4.41 mi)
Width 4.2 km (2.61 mi)
Highest elevation 34 m (112 ft)
Administration
Territory Nunavut
Region Qikiqtaaluk
Largest settlement Sanikiluaq
Demographics
Population 812
Ethnic groups Inuit

Flaherty Island is a cool place in Canada. It is the biggest island in a group called the Belcher Islands. You can find it in Hudson Bay, which is a very large body of water. This island is part of the Nunavut territory in Canada.

The island is home to the Inuit community of Sanikiluaq. This town is on the north side of Flaherty Island. Sanikiluaq is the most southern community in all of Nunavut.

Flaherty Island got its name from a person named Robert J. Flaherty. He was a special kind of filmmaker. He studied people and cultures through his films. This is called visual anthropology.

Where is Flaherty Island?

Flaherty Island is located in Hudson Bay. This bay is a huge inland sea in Canada. The island is part of the Belcher Islands archipelago. An archipelago is a group of islands. These islands are in the Qikiqtaaluk Region of Nunavut. Nunavut is a large territory in northern Canada.

The Belcher Islands

The Belcher Islands are a group of many islands. Flaherty Island is the largest one. These islands are known for their unique shape. They look like a giant horseshoe from above. The islands are mostly made of ancient rocks. These rocks are billions of years old.

Life in Sanikiluaq

The town of Sanikiluaq is on Flaherty Island. It is the only community on the island. About 800 people live there. Most of the people are Inuit. The Inuit are the Indigenous people of the Arctic regions. They have lived in this area for thousands of years.

Life in Sanikiluaq is connected to the land and sea. People often hunt and fish. They also gather plants. These activities are important for their culture and food. The community has a school and other services. It is a modern town in a remote location.

Who was Robert J. Flaherty?

Flaherty Island is named after Robert J. Flaherty. He was an American filmmaker. He lived from 1884 to 1951. He is famous for making some of the first documentary films. A documentary film shows real life.

His Work

Robert Flaherty traveled to the Arctic. He spent time with the Inuit people. He learned about their way of life. His most famous film is called Nanook of the North. This film came out in 1922. It showed the daily life of an Inuit hunter named Nanook.

Flaherty's films helped people around the world learn about different cultures. He is often called the "father of the documentary film." Naming an island after him honors his work. It also recognizes his connection to the Arctic and its people.

Animals and Nature

Flaherty Island and the Belcher Islands are home to many animals. The cold waters of Hudson Bay are full of life. You might see seals and polar bears. Many types of birds also live here. Some birds migrate to the islands for the summer.

The landscape of the island is rugged. It has low hills and rocky shores. There are also many small lakes and ponds. The plants that grow here are tough. They can survive the cold Arctic climate.

See also

kids search engine
Flaherty Island Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.