About KHS

The Kitikmeot Heritage Society preserves, promotes and celebrates the history, culture, language and diversity of the people of the Kitikmeot region. It does this by:

• Collecting and archiving the oral histories of the elders.
• Preserving archaeological sites through oral history and archaeological study.
• Collecting historical information and archives.
• Using the information collected to promote and preserve Inuinnaqtun and Inuktitut.
• Developing educational and learning materials.
• Promoting and celebrating the cultures and traditions of the people.

The Kitikmeot Heritage Society was incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1995. The society is incorporated under the Nunavut Societies Act #SOC 1236. Our Charitable Organization Registration number is #897090536RR0001.

The Kitikmeot Heritage Society is a volunteer-run, charitable organization with an elected board of directors and executive from the community of Cambridge Bay. Board membership consists primarily of elders from the community. While the majority of our work is in Cambridge Bay, we preserve and promote the culture and language of the people of the Kitikmeot Region of Nunavut. Membership is open to anyone in the community over the age of 16.

Through the May Hakongak Community Library & Cultural Centre, the KHS provides a range of cultural and educational services to people in the Kitikmeot. Our primary goal is to preserve and promote the Inuit culture and language. Our programs include:

• Recording and preserving traditional knowledge, oral histories and place names;
• Developing Inuinnaqtun, Inuktitut and English educational resources;
• Assisting researchers in the community and outside of Nunavut;

• Public library services;
• Traditional skills workshops and programs;
• Educational programs for school groups;
• Training and mentoring programs for youth interested in archives and museum careers;
• Summer archaeological training programs for youth;
• Cultural and educational activities for tourists and tour groups.

• Elders oral history camps during the summers of 1996, '97, '98 and '99 at Kuukyuak (Perry River);
• A combined archaeological and oral history project at Uvajuq (Mount Pelly);
• The commissioning of print artist Elsie Klengenberg to produce 20 prints depicting the legend of Uvajuq. These prints were subsequently used in a documentary film, in a book, and in a Winnipeg Art Gallery mounted exhibition;
• The production of three documentary films, co-produced with award-winning filmmaker Vic Pelletier. The legend of Uvajuq, stone carving and drum dancing were the subjects of the documentaries which comprise the Kitikmeot Series. The series was broadcast in French and English across Canada and Europe;
• Co-publication of Uvajuq - The Origin of Death, a book based on the legend recounted by elders from the Cambridge Bay area and illustrated by Elsie Klengenberg. The book is available through booksellers across Canada;
• Publication of a series of Inuinnaqtun and English short stories based on oral history interviews. The book was produced as a resource for use in Nunavut Arctic College, the high schools and for use in the public library;
• A traditional knowledge project on seals and seal-hunting;
• Oral history research conducted in Pelly Bay, Taloyoak, Cambridge Bay and Gjoa Haven;
• A combined traditional knowledge and archaeological project at Iqaluktuuq, Nunavut. The Kitikmeot Heritage Society initiated this long-term project in partnership with Dr. Max Friesen and the University of Toronto's Department of Anthropology. The project, which began in 1999, is now in its 5th year;
• Construction of a combined regional museum, archives, cultural centre and public library in the community of Cambridge Bay;
• Traditional place name research in the Kitikmeot region. This multi-year project will culminate in the development of a traditional place name atlas for the region.