Native Point facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Native Point
Native Point Location in Nunavut
Country	Canada
Territory	Nunavut
Region	Kivalliq Region

Native Point is a piece of land that sticks out into the water. It's also called Tunirmiut or Tuneriut in Inuktitut. You can find it in the Kivalliq Region of Nunavut, Canada.

This special place is on Southampton Island's Bell Peninsula, right where Native Bay opens up. Native Point is famous because it was once home to an old settlement of the Sadlermiut people. Today, it's an important place where scientists study the past.

Discovering the Sadlermiut Settlement

The Sadlermiut settlement was located on the west side of Native Point. Sadly, the last Sadlermiut people died during the winter of 1902–03 because of a serious illness. This left their village empty.

Today, this spot is a very important archaeological site. It's known as "T1." This name comes from the Inuktitut name for Native Point, "Tuneriut." T1 is the biggest Sadlermiut site found on Southampton Island.

What We Found at T1

The Sadlermiut people made and used tools from chipped stone tools. They also created many things from natural materials like bone or wood. Scientists have found some amazing items at the site.

One special discovery was human-like figures called aarnguaq. These small statues were likely used in healing ceremonies. This tells us that the Sadlermiut people practiced shamanism, a belief system where spiritual leaders connect with the spirit world.

Many human remains were also found at the site. Experts grouped these burials into three main time periods. The "village" graves were thought to be the oldest. "Peripheral" burials, found a bit further away, were from a middle time. Finally, "meat-cache" graves likely held people who died during the 1902-1903 illness that greatly reduced the Sadlermiut population.