tuktoyaktuk

File:Trans Canada Trail CYUB.jpg sign in Tuk]]

File:Pingos near Tuk.jpg near Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories]]

File:Tuktoyaktuk Community Cooler.jpg

File:Tuktoyaktuk airial photo 1987.jpg

Tuktoyaktuk is the anglicized form of the native Inuvialuit place-name, meaning "resembling a caribou". According to legend, a woman looked on as some caribou, common at the site, waded into the water and turned into stone. Today, reefs resembling petrified caribou are said to be visible at low tide along the shore of the town.{{cite web|url=http://tuk.ca/welcome/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080924175844/http://tuk.ca/welcome/ |archive-date=24 September 2008 |title=Tourist guide |publisher=Tuk.ca }}

No formal archaeological sites exist today, the Inuvialuit have used the settlement for centuries as a place to harvest caribou and beluga whales. Tuktoyaktuk's natural harbour was also historically used to transport supplies to other Inuvialuit settlements.

Between 1890 and 1910, many of Tuktoyaktuk's native families were wiped out in flu epidemics brought in by American whalers. In subsequent years, the Dene people, as well as residents of Herschel Island, settled here. By 1937, the Hudson's Bay Company had established a trading post. On 9 September 1944, a windstorm blew through the community, severely damaged several buildings and schooners docked at the harbour, and killed 11 people en route back from a reindeer station on the Anderson River on the schooner Cally.The Moccasin Telegraph, March 1945

Radomes were installed beginning in the 1950s as part of the Distant Early Warning Line, to monitor air traffic and detect possible Soviet intrusions during the Cold War. The settlement's location (and harbour) made Tuk important in resupplying the civilian contractors and Air Force personnel along the DEW Line. In 1947, Tuktoyaktuk became the site of one of the first government day schools, designed to forcibly assimilate Inuit youth into mainstream Canadian culture.{{cite book|last=Crowe|first=Keith J.|title=A History of the Original Peoples of Northern Canada|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iBISw4pPaDoC&pg=PP1|edition=revised|year=1991|publisher=McGill-Queen's University Press|isbn=978-0-7735-0880-4|orig-year=1974}}{{cite encyclopedia |last=Brant |first=Jennifer |title=Racial Segregation of Indigenous Peoples in Canada |encyclopedia=The Canadian Encyclopedia |date=1 May 2020 |publisher=Historica Canada |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/racial-segregation-of-indigenous-peoples-in-canada}}

Tuktoyaktuk eventually became a base for the oil and natural gas exploration of the Beaufort Sea. Large industrial buildings remain from the busy period following the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries 1973 oil embargo and 1979 summertime fuel shortage. This brought many more outsiders into the region.

In late 2010, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency announced that it would undertake an environmental study of a proposed all-weather road between Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk.{{cite web|url=http://www.ceaa.gc.ca/050/details-eng.cfm?evaluation=58081 |title=Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry – Environmental Assessment Home Page |publisher=Ceaa.gc.ca |date=27 September 2010 |access-date=27 December 2011}} Work on the Inuvik–Tuktoyaktuk Highway started on 8 January 2014, and the highway opened on 15 November 2017.

Tuktoyaktuk is on Kugmallit Bay, near the Mackenzie River Delta, and is on the Arctic tree line.

Tuktoyaktuk is the gateway for exploring Pingo Canadian Landmark, an area protecting eight nearby pingos in a region that contains about 1,350 of these Arctic ice-dome hills. The landmark comprises an area roughly {{cvt|16|km2}}, just a few kilometres west of the community, and includes Ibyuk Pingo, Canada's highest, and the world's second-highest, pingo, at {{cvt|49|m}}.{{cite web|publisher=Parks Canada |url=https://parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/nt/pingo |date=16 August 2024 |title=Pingo Canadian Landmark|access-date=3 December 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201225226/https://parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/nt/pingo |archive-date=1 December 2022}}

Many residents continue traditional activities such as hunting, fishing, and trapping. Hunting caribou occurs in the autumn, ducks and geese in both spring and autumn, while fishing takes place all year-round. Other activities include collecting driftwood, berry picking, and reindeer herding. Most productivity today comes from tourism and transportation. Marine Transportation Services (MTS) is a major employer in the region, and the fossil fuel industry continues to employ explorers and other workers.

In 1962, the government-sponsored Tuktoyaktuk Fur Garment Project started; it provided vocational training in industrial sewing and commercial production of items for sale, including parkas, mitts, slippers, mukluks, hats, wall hangings, place mats and dolls produced by local women that were sold in the Tuktoyaktuk Fur Garment Shop. The shop closed in the 1980s.{{cite journal|author-last=Arnold|author-first=C|year=2019|title=Sewing culture: the Tuktoyaktuk Fur Garment Shop|journal=Tusaayaksat|volume=Fall|pages=19–23}}

{{Historical populations

| title = Federal census population history of Tuktoyaktuk

| type = Canada

| align = left

| width =

| state =

| shading =

| percentages =

|1971|597

|1976|590

|1981|772

|1986|929

|1991|918

|1996|943

|2001|930

|2006|870

|2011|854

|2016|898

|2021|937

| footnote =

| source = Statistics Canada
{{cite web | url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/hlt-fst/pd-pl/Table.cfm?Lang=Eng&T=302&SR=1&S=86&O=A&RPP=9999&PR=61 | title=Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Northwest Territories) | publisher=Statistics Canada | date=8 February 2017 | accessdate=1 February 2022}}{{cite web | url=https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2017/statcan/CS92-805-1976.pdf | title=1976 Census of Canada: Population - Geographic Distributions | publisher=Statistics Canada | date=June 1977 | accessdate=1 February 2022}}{{cite web | url=https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2017/statcan/CS94-905-1981.pdf | title=1981 Census of Canada: Census subdivisions in decreasing population order | publisher=Statistics Canada | date=May 1992 | accessdate=1 February 2021}}{{cite web | url=https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2013/statcan/rh-hc/CS92-101-1987.pdf | title=1986 Census: Population - Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions | publisher=Statistics Canada | date=September 1987 | accessdate=1 February 2022}}{{cite web | url=https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2013/statcan/rh-hc/CS93-304-1992.pdf | title=91 Census: Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions - Population and Dwelling Counts | publisher=Statistics Canada | date=April 1992 | accessdate=1 February 2022}}{{cite web | url=https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2012/statcan/rh-hc/CS93-357-1997.pdf | title=96 Census: A National Overview - Population and Dwelling Counts | publisher=Statistics Canada | date=April 1997 | accessdate=1 February 2022}}{{cite web | url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/english/census01/products/standard/popdwell/Table-CSD-P.cfm?T=1&SR=1&S=1&O=A&PR=61 | title=Population and Dwelling Counts, for Canada, Provinces and Territories, and Census Subdivisions (Municipalities), 2001 and 1996 Censuses - 100% Data (Northwest Territories) | publisher=Statistics Canada | date=15 August 2012 | accessdate=1 February 2022}}{{cite web | url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/hlt/97-550/Index.cfm?TPL=P1C&Page=RETR&LANG=Eng&T=302&SR=1&S=1&O=A&RPP=9999&CMA=0&PR=61 | title=Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2006 and 2001 censuses - 100% data (Northwest Territories) | publisher=Statistics Canada | date=20 August 2021 | accessdate=1 February 2022}}{{cite web | url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2011/dp-pd/hlt-fst/pd-pl/Table-Tableau.cfm?LANG=Eng&T=302&SR=1&S=51&O=A&RPP=9999&CMA=0&PR=61 | title=Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2011 and 2006 censuses (Northwest Territories) | publisher=Statistics Canada | date=25 July 2021 | accessdate=1 February 2022}}

}}

In the 2021 Canadian census conducted by Statistics Canada, Tuktoyaktuk had a population of 937 living in 285 of its 334 total private dwellings, a change of {{percentage|{{#expr:937-898}}|898|1}} from its 2016 population of 898. With a land area of {{cvt|12.66|km2}}, it had a population density of {{Pop density|937|12.66|km2|sqmi|prec=1}} in 2021.{{cite web | url=https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810000202&geocode=A000261 | title=Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), Northwest Territories | publisher=Statistics Canada | date=9 February 2022 | accessdate=18 February 2022}}

The average annual personal income in 2015 was $21,984 Canadian and the average family income was $55,424. Local languages are Inuinnaqtun (Inuvialuktun) and English with a few North Slavey and Tłı̨chǫ (Dogrib) speakers. Tuktoyaktuk is predominately Indigenous (90.8%) with Inuit (Inuvialuit) making up 88.0%, 9.2% non-Aboriginal, 1.7% First Nations and 1.1% giving multiple Indigenous backgrounds.

{{Historical populations

|align=none

|cols=2

|title=Annual population estimates

|1996|971

|1997|964

|1998|981

|1999|982

|2000|977

|2001|998

|2002|986

|2003|966

|2004|956

|2005|941

|2006|906

|2007|898

|2008|910

|2009|876

|2010|876

|2011|877

|2012|893

|2013|894

|2014|923

|2015|975

|2016|1000

|2017|1026

|2018|993

|2019|995

|footnote= Sources: NWT Bureau of Statistics (2008–2019), NWT Bureau of Statistics (2001–2017)[https://www.statsnwt.ca/population/population-estimates/commtotals_2001-2017.xlsx Population Estimates By Community] from the GNWT

}}

File:2022-07-31-Tuktoyaktuk-05401.jpg

File:Liverpool Bay and Tuktoyaktuk Peninsula, Canada.jpg, and the Tuktoyaktuk Peninsula]]

Tuktoyaktuk has a subarctic climate (Dfc), bordering on a tundra climate (ET), as the July mean temperature is barely above {{cvt|10|C}}. Since the Arctic Ocean freezes over for much of the year, the maritime influence is minimized, resulting in cold winters and a strong seasonal lag in spring. This results in colder Aprils than Octobers and much colder Mays than Septembers. March is also colder than November.

Due to the dominance of cold air, Tuktoyaktuk has a lower precipitation rate than many desert climates. Still, the cold temperatures mean it receives more than a metre of snow a year on average. Owing to the thousands of kilometres of land south of Tuktoyaktuk, southerly winds can sometimes push warmer air into the region. Rex blocks can cause an exceptionally strong ridge of high pressure to form at higher latitudes, allowing heat to build consistently.{{Cite web |author=Digital Writers |title=Arctic Circle snags some of Canada's hottest weather to start July |url=https://www.theweathernetwork.com/ca/news/article/arctic-circle-snags-some-of-canadas-hottest-weather-to-start-july |access-date=5 July 2022 |website=www.theweathernetwork.com|date=4 July 2022 }} As a result, temperatures well above average can occur in summer despite the cold surrounding waters.

During a bout of exceptionally hot Arctic weather,{{cite web|url=https://www.theweathernetwork.com/ca/news/article/records-may-fall-as-impressive-heat-wave-roasts-the-arctic-circle |title=Records may fall as impressive heat wave roasts the Arctic Circle |date=26 June 2022 |publisher=theweathernetwork.com |access-date= 5 July 2022 }} Tuktoyaktuk was among the numerous northern communities that witnessed extreme temperatures, reaching a high of {{cvt|29.9|C}} on 4 July 2022.{{cite web|url=https://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_data/daily_data_e.html?StationID=26987&timeframe=2&StartYear=1840&EndYear=2025&Day=9&Year=2022&Month=7# |title=Tuktoyaktuk |work = Daily Data Report for July 2022. |publisher=Environment and Climate Change Canada |id=WMO ID: 71985 |access-date= 10 April 2025 }} Its overall highest temperature of {{cvt|30.4|C}} was recorded on 2 July 1998. Tuktoyaktuk's climate stands in stark contrast to those of Northern Norway at similar latitudes, but is in many ways less extreme than that of Eastern Canada at lower latitudes, where summers are cooler, moderated by the cool waters of the Hudson Bay.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}

{{Tuktoyaktuk weatherbox}}

Tuktoyaktuk/James Gruben Airport links Tuktoyaktuk to Inuvik. The Tuktoyaktuk Winter Road formerly provided road access to Inuvik in the winter. In 2017, the $300-million Inuvik–Tuktoyaktuk Highway opened.{{cite web|url=http://ith.dot.gov.nt.ca/opening |title=Official Opening Ceremonies|access-date=24 October 2017 |website= Inuvik Tuktoyaktuk Highway |publisher= Government of Northwest Territories}} It provides all-season access to Inuvik, which connects to the rest of the highway networks in Canada.{{cite web |first=Brian |last=Stewart |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/new-arctic-coast-highway-opens-up-remote-tuktoyaktuk-1.4363029 |title=New Arctic coast highway opens up remote Tuktoyaktuk |publisher=CBC News |date=23 October 2017}}

The airport previously had scheduled service from Inuvik operated by Aklak Air. Service was cancelled in 2018 after the opening of the Inuvik–Tuktoyaktuk Highway created a permanent link between the communities and resulted in a drop in demand for air service.{{cite news |title=Aklak Air cancels Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk flight service due to 'significant decline in demand' |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/inuvik-tuktoyaktuk-flight-cancelled-decline-1.4528837 |access-date=25 January 2021 |work=CBC News |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |date=9 February 2018}}

{{wide image|File:Tuktoyaktuk Panorama.jpg|1250px|Tuktoyaktuk panorama}}

• In the third episode of Jesse James Is a Dead Man, originally aired on 14 June 2009 on Spike TV, Jesse James rides his motorcycle from Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk to drop off medical supplies.{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1436160/?ref_=tt_cl_i1|title=Arctic Bike Journey|website=IMDb}}
• On 3 September 1995, the Molson Brewing Company arranged for several popular rock bands to perform in Tuktoyaktuk as a publicity stunt promoting its new ice-brewed beer. During the months leading up to concert, radio stations across North America ran contests in which they gave away free tickets. Dubbed The Molson Ice Polar Beach Party, it featured Hole, Metallica,{{Cite news|title=It took heart surgery for this man to open this giant bottle of wine after 2 decades {{!}} CBC News|work=CBC|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/tuktoyaktuk-polar-party-david-connelly-big-wine-open-1.3897190|access-date=22 October 2020}} Moist, Cake, and Veruca Salt. Canadian filmmaker Albert Nerenberg made a documentary about the concert, Invasion of the Beer People.{{cite web|url=http://www.nutaaq.com/productions/beerpeople.html |title=Website for Invasion of the Beer People |publisher=Nutaaq.com |archive-date=26 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426020121/http://www.nutaaq.com/productions/beerpeople.html}}
• Tuktoyaktuk is featured in the Discovery Channel TV show Ice Road Truckers.{{Cite web |last=Kaplan |first=Don |date=2 April 2008 |title=Back on the 'ice road' |url=https://nypost.com/2008/04/02/back-on-the-ice-road/ |access-date=22 October 2022 |website=New York Post}}
• The imaginary Tuktoyaktuk University, abbreviated "TUK-U", has been "emblazoned on hundreds of thousands of T-shirts that travelled the world".{{cite web |title=What To Do in Tuktoyaktuk |url=https://spectacularnwt.com/story/what-to-do-in-tuktoyaktuk/ |website=Spectacular NWT |access-date=21 July 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Harris |first1=Kate |title=Tuktoyaktuk or Bust |url=https://thewalrus.ca/tuktoyaktuk-or-bust/ |website=The Walrus |access-date=21 July 2024 |date=19 May 2014}}

• List of municipalities in the Northwest Territories
• Territorial claims in the Arctic

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Cite news |last=Onishi |first=Norimitsu |last2=Philippe |first2=Renaud |date=2024-12-02 |title=An Arctic Hamlet Is Sinking Into the Thawing Permafrost |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/02/world/americas/canada-arctic-permafrost-thawing.html |access-date=2025-02-27 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US }}

{{Commons category}}

• [https://www.tuktoyaktuk.ca/ Official site]

{{Communities of Northwest Territories}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Tuktoyaktuk

Category:Inuit in the Northwest Territories

Category:Populated places in Arctic Canada