Home / Artists & Communities / Communities
Naujaat (formerly known as Repulse Bay) is located on the Arctic Circle, on the northern shore of Hudson Bay, in the Kivalliq Region of Nunavut. Sitting on a steeply rising coastline, the area is rich with Thule heritage. The homeland of the Naujaat Inuit, it was first visited by Europeans in the early 18th century. Naujaat is the Inuktitut name for the community and means “seagulls’ nesting place”. Cliffs located 5 km north of the community provide nesting grounds for seagulls, snow birds, loons, eider ducks, longtail ducks and jaegers beginning each June. The region is abundant with many forms of wildlife, including herds of caribou and wolf packs. The salt waters are home to Narwhal and the freshwaters are renowned for Arctic char. The community is rich in tradition with excellent artisans and Inuit carvers who use bone, ivory and stone for their works. Similar to the South Baffin community of Cape Dorset, Naujaat is known for its innovative carvings which are represented in some of the most notable collections worldwide.