AKLAVIK

Aklavik is a community, whose name means barren-ground grizzly place. (межвежий угол) It is located on the west channel of the Mackenzie Delta 58 air km west of Inuvik. You can fly year around or in the winter you have an ice-road (зимник) to travel by truck or go by a boat in the summer. The population is approximately 700 people. The people in Aklavik mainly consist evenly among Gwich'in and Inuvialuit people. Aklavik was and still is the meeting place for all Gwich'in and Inuvialuit people of the Delta Region.

In the 1920’s Aklavik was the main community of the Mackenzie Delta until the 1950*s when there was melting permafrost that was leading to flooding and the Government wanted to move Aklavik to East Three (now Inuvik). Although there were people that moved, some people stayed in Aklavik and people now know the town as '" the town that wouldn't die". Aklavik has a long history from having the Hudson Bay Company; it was the main area for trading. The main part of Aklavik's history was the involvement of the chasing and death of the Mad Trapper of Rat River Albert Johnson. Johnson is now buried in Aklavik.

The people of Aklavik always depended on the land for food, clothing and shelter. Today the people still go out on the land and make their living off the land. There are people that still trade the furs and make clothing from the animals they get. The people speak Gwich’in Inuvialuit and the English language.

Aklavik has many buildings that make up the community. The community has a Police station, Health Center, Post Office. Hamlet Office, Housing Office, Social Services, school, preschool, swimming pool, bed and breakfast, Northern store_, General Store, airport, Inuvialuit and Gwich'in properties, dental therapist, NTPC, fire hall and a lot of other small organizations. Mostly all the buildings in Aklavik are named after people of Aklavik that contributed to the community. Also there are street names that are named after people from the community.

There are events that happen yearly and many people from all over come to join the festivities. There is the Mad Trapper Rendezvous that happens in the spring. Pokiak River Festival in the summer, and Christmas Activities during the holidays. Also there are many activities that happen for days like NAAW (National Addictions Awareness Week), Halloween, and Valentine's Day. There are many things to do yearly from boating in the summer, ski-dooing in the winter, going out on the land to hunt or pick berries or just going out for a walk to see the nice scenery and meet the nice people of Aklavik.

In conclusion, Aklavik is a nice community that will always be appreciated and visited by people around the delta and some people still would call it home. There is always a place that you would be welcomed to have a cup of tea and some fresh bannock.

Academic Upgrading Program,

Aurora Campus Inuvik Learning Centre,

Aurora College, Inuvik, NT

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