Nain, Newfoundland and Labrador

Nain or Naina (Inuit: Nunainguk) is the northernmost permanent settlement in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, within the Nunatsiavut region, located about 370 kilometres (230 mi) by air from Happy Valley-Goose Bay. The town was established as a Moravian mission in 1771 by Jens Haven and other missionaries. As of 2016, the population is 1,125 mostly Inuit and mixed Inuit-European.[2]

Nain

Nunainguk[1]
Inuit community
Nain as viewed from Mt. Sophie, September 2011.
Nain
Location of Nain in the province
Coordinates: 56°32′32″N 61°41′34″W
CountryCanada
ProvinceNewfoundland and Labrador
RegionNunatsiavut
Settled1771
Government
 • TypeInuit Community Government
 • Mayor (AngajukKâk)Joe Dicker
 • Federal MPYvonne Jones (L)
 • Provincial MHALela Evans (PC)
 • Nunatsiavut Assembly membersTony Andersen
Jim Lyall
Area
 • Total94.58 km2 (36.52 sq mi)
Elevation
11 m (36 ft)
Population
 (2016)[2]
 • Total1,125
 • Density11.9/km2 (31/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-4 (AST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-3 (Atlantic Daylight Saving Time)
Postal code span
A0P
Area code(s)709

Nain is inaccessible by road and may be reached only by air or sea.

History
Nain in 1909.

Nain was first established in 1771 by Moravian missionaries. It is among the oldest permanent Inuit settlements in Canada, most communities in Nunavut and Nunavik were settled in the 1950s or later. It is also the oldest continuously-inhabited community in Labrador after North West River. Nain has also been called "Nonynuke", "Nuninock" and "Nunaingoakh".[3] The missionaries also established posts in Hopedale and areas in the north such as Hebron and Okak. The first Inuk to be baptized in Nain was a man named Kingminguse who took the name "Petrus" after conversion and then returned to southern Labrador where he used the name "Petrus Kingminguse" and died in 1800.[4] Many Inuit in the south traveled to the Moravian posts in the north to be baptized and then returned to the south. The Moravians established posts only in northern areas since the Colony of Newfoundland hoped to colonize southern Labrador. In 1773, it was claimed that over 250 Inuit lived in Nain.[3] In 1893, Nain's residents adopted patrilineal surnames at the request of Newfoundland courts. Many people took names of the missionaries (such as "Kohlmeister" and Townley") while others chose traditional names such as "Agnatok", "Kalleo", "Karpik", "Merkuratsuk", "Pamak" and "Saksagiak" or other European names such as "Abel" and "Obed". During the 19th-century, many people from southern parts of Labrador settled on islands near Nain and introduced names to the area such as "Dicker" and "Webb". Most of these island settlements were resettled in the 1950s and 1960s and their inhabitants mostly settled in Nain.

In 1959, residents of Hebron and Nutak resettled to Nain, Hopedale, Makkovik and Happy Valley-Goose Bay.[5] The relocation had a huge impact on residents of Hebron and Nutak since the land in Nain (and other communities) was very different (resulting in difficulties when hunting) and many families were divided. Poverty and alcoholism has affected many of the families that originated in Hebron and Nutak. The provincial government apologized for the relocations in 2005.[6] Many Inuit from Hebron were relocated to Nain by the provincial government after the Moravian mission at Hebron was closed under government pressure in 1959.[7]

In 2016, the Google Street View imaging service uploaded images of various roads in Nain. Nain is one of the few communities in Labrador with images on the service.

Nunatsiavut

On December 1, 2005, Nain became the administrative capital of the autonomous region of Nunatsiavut which is the name chosen by the Labrador Inuit when the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement Act was successfully ratified by the Canadian Government and the Inuit of Labrador.[8] Hopedale, further south, is the legislative capital.[9] The land claim cedes limited self-rule for the Nunatsiavut government in Northern Labrador and North-Eastern Quebec, granting title and aboriginal rights.[9] The land that comprises the Nunatsiavut government is called the Labrador Inuit Settlement Area, or LISA, which amount to approximately 72,500 km2 (28,000 sq mi).[10] The Inuit of Labrador do not own this land per se, but they do have special rights related to traditional land use as aboriginals. That said, the Labrador Inuit will own 15,000 km2 (5,800 sq mi) within the Settlement Area, officially designated as Labrador Inuit Lands. The Agreement also provides for the establishment of the Torngat Mountains National Park Reserve, consisting of about 9,600 square kilometres (3,700 sq mi) of land within LISA.[10][11]

Geography

Nain is located on the north side of Unity Bay, a small inlet. The bay is open to the Atlantic Ocean but Nain's harbour is protected by numerous islands, the largest of which is Paul's Island. From Nain to the open Labrador Sea is approximately 50 km (31 mi) east through Strathcona Run.

Climate

Although located at the same latitude as Ketchikan on North America's west coast, or Moscow and southern Scandinavia in Europe, the influence of the Labrador Current gives Nain a marginal subarctic climate (Dfc) that is very close to a polar climate (ET), which creates the southernmost tree line in the northern hemisphere on the adjacent coast. The southernmost tundra is actually still in a zone of discontinuous permafrost rather than the much more typical continuous zone.[12] The almost constant presence of the Icelandic Low means that precipitation, both as rain and snow, is exceptionally heavy for so consistently cold a climate in a low-lying area, with 5 metres (16 ft) of snow falling each winter. The actual depth of snow on the ground averages 1.13 metres (44 in) at the end of March.

Climate data for Nain (1981–2010 normals)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high humidex 9.0 6.5 9.0 12.8 24.8 38.1 40.2 41.4 30.5 16.9 10.6 4.8 41.4
Record high °C (°F) 10.5
(50.9)		 7.6
(45.7)		 12.1
(53.8)		 14.5
(58.1)		 25.6
(78.1)		 33.3
(91.9)		 33.3
(91.9)		 32.7
(90.9)		 26.1
(79.0)		 19.4
(66.9)		 11.7
(53.1)		 6.7
(44.1)		 33.3
(91.9)
Average high °C (°F) −13.5
(7.7)		 −13.0
(8.6)		 −7.5
(18.5)		 0.0
(32.0)		 5.6
(42.1)		 11.0
(51.8)		 14.9
(58.8)		 15.8
(60.4)		 11.5
(52.7)		 5.1
(41.2)		 −1.3
(29.7)		 −8.1
(17.4)		 1.7
(35.1)
Daily mean °C (°F) −17.6
(0.3)		 −17.4
(0.7)		 −12.5
(9.5)		 −4.6
(23.7)		 1.5
(34.7)		 6.4
(43.5)		 10.1
(50.2)		 11.0
(51.8)		 7.5
(45.5)		 2.1
(35.8)		 −4.4
(24.1)		 −11.8
(10.8)		 −2.5
(27.6)
Average low °C (°F) −21.6
(−6.9)		 −21.8
(−7.2)		 −17.4
(0.7)		 −9.1
(15.6)		 −2.5
(27.5)		 1.8
(35.2)		 5.3
(41.5)		 6.1
(43.0)		 3.4
(38.1)		 −1.0
(30.2)		 −7.5
(18.5)		 −15.4
(4.3)		 −6.6
(20.0)
Record low °C (°F) −39.4
(−38.9)		 −38.3
(−36.9)		 −37.0
(−34.6)		 −31.1
(−24.0)		 −17.5
(0.5)		 −6.7
(19.9)		 −2.8
(27.0)		 −2.8
(27.0)		 −6.7
(19.9)		 −19.0
(−2.2)		 −24.4
(−11.9)		 −41.5
(−42.7)		 −41.5
(−42.7)
Record low wind chill −52.9 −59.5 −54 −41.3 −20.8 −10.1 −5 −3.4 −9.1 −31.2 −33.3 −55.5 −59.5
Average precipitation mm (inches) 83.8
(3.30)		 70.9
(2.79)		 73.6
(2.90)		 71.1
(2.80)		 57.0
(2.24)		 83.4
(3.28)		 98.6
(3.88)		 71.5
(2.81)		 81.9
(3.22)		 74.2
(2.92)		 77.6
(3.06)		 81.9
(3.22)		 925.5
(36.42)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 3.1
(0.12)		 5.1
(0.20)		 5.5
(0.22)		 14.1
(0.56)		 30.2
(1.19)		 70.1
(2.76)		 98.6
(3.88)		 71.5
(2.81)		 79.9
(3.15)		 49.7
(1.96)		 14.1
(0.56)		 8.4
(0.33)		 450.3
(17.74)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 80.9
(31.9)		 65.9
(25.9)		 68.2
(26.9)		 56.9
(22.4)		 26.7
(10.5)		 13.3
(5.2)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 2.0
(0.8)		 24.5
(9.6)		 63.5
(25.0)		 73.4
(28.9)		 475.3
(187.1)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) 14.1 12.0 13.1 13.7 13.0 15.0 16.0 15.4 15.3 14.6 13.8 14.1 170.1
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) 1.0 1.0 1.6 3.4 8.3 14.2 16.2 15.4 15.2 10.1 3.1 1.8 91.3
Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) 13.9 11.7 12.8 12.2 7.7 2.9 0.0 0.0 0.8 7.4 12.6 13.3 95.3
Source: Environment Canada[13]
Anorthosite, marketed as "Blue Eyes Granite," from the Ten Mile Bay Quarry, near Nain. Every crystal will flash bright blue when tilted at the correct angle in the light, an optical effect called "labradorescence".

Local government

The town is governed by a seven-member council composed of a mayor (or Angajukĸâk), deputy mayor (Deputy Angajukĸâk), and five councilors.

The Town Council formally changed its name from "Nain Town Council" to "Nain Inuit Community Government" in October 2006. The Nain Inuit Community Government meets once per month.

Educational facilities

Nain has one kindergarten to level III school, Jens Haven Memorial, which is split between two buildings. One building contains primary grades (kindergarten to grade 3), the other houses elementary and secondary grades (grade 4 to Level III).

There is also an adult basic education (ABE) program offered in town, delivered by Academy Canada. Academy Canada delivers this program in Nain and throughout Labrador in communities including Happy Valley - Goose Bay, Hopedale, Labrador City, Natuashish and Sheshatshiu.

Industry

Fishing is the main industry in Nain.[14] Traditional hunting and trapping activities continue through the winter months after the fishing season has ended.

Demographics

Ethnicity
Canada 2016 CensusPopulation% of Total Population
Visible minority group
Source:[2]		South Asian00.0
Chinese00.0
Black00.0
Filipino00 .0
Latin American00.0
Southeast Asian00.0
Other visible minority00.0
Total visible minority population00.0
Aboriginal group
Source:[2]		First Nations252.2
Métis151.3
Inuit1,02591.1
Total Aboriginal population1,03592.0
White908.0
Total population1,125100.0

Language (2016 census)
  • English: 810
  • Inuktitut: 295

Media

Nain has two radio services available.

CKOK-FM is a low-power (LP) re-broadcaster of CKHV broadcasting at 99.9 FM. Owned by the Okalakatiget Society, the station broadcasts a community radio format for the region's First Nations and Inuit communities.

As of the end of 2014, the station now streams online. It broadcasts live during local programming only.

There is also a local re-broadcaster of Happy Valley-Goose Bay's CBC Radio One feed, CBNZ. It operates on 740 AM.

Transport

Flights to Nain are at Nain Airport, and are available from Happy Valley-Goose Bay on Air Borealis (part of PAL Airlines).

Between mid-June and mid-November (pending ice conditions), the ferry MV Kamutik W, operated by the Newfoundland and Labrador Government, provides weekly service[15] from Goose Bay along the Atlantic Coast, with stops in Rigolet, Makkovik, Postville, Hopedale and Natuashish. Nain is the northernmost stop on the route; the ferry stays docked at Nain for about three hours before beginning its southbound route.[15]

See also
  • List of cities and towns in Newfoundland and Labrador

References
  1. "Inuktut Lexicon Atlas". inuktutlexicon.gcrc.carleton.ca. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  2. "Nain, Town [Census subdivision], Newfoundland and Labrador and Division No. 11, Census division [Census division], Newfoundland and Labrador". Statistics Canada. Government of Canada. Retrieved May 19, 2018.
  3. "Toponymic and Cartographic Research Conducted for the Labrador Métis Nation" (PDF). mun.ca. September 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-01-04. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  4. Rollman, Hans (18 June 2011). "'For them, it's all about the name'". The Telegram. Archived from the original on 2 October 2012. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  5. "Inuit mark 50th anniversary of Labrador resettlement". CBC News. August 12, 2009. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  6. "Memorial to Former Residents of Hebron Unveiled" (Press release). Executive Council, Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs, Tourism, Culture and Recreation. August 10, 2009. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
  7. "Relocated Labrador Inuit to get apology monument". CBC News. July 24, 2009. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  8. "Labrador's Inuit cheer land agreement". CBC news. January 22, 2005. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  9. "Nunatsiavut Government". nunatsiavut.com. Archived from the original on 2010-02-28. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  10. "Land Claim". nunatsiavut.com. Archived from the original on 2008-06-09. Retrieved 2008-09-23.
  11. "Torngat Mountains National Park Reserve". Archived from the original on 2007-10-22. Retrieved 2008-09-23.
  12. "The Atlas of Canada - Permafrost". Archived from the original on 2012-10-06. Retrieved 2011-09-04.
  13. "Canadian Climate Normals 1981-2010: Nain A". Environment Canada. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  15. "Goose Bay - Rigolet - Cartwright - Black Tickle - Ports North To Nain". Provincial Ferry Services. Archived from the original on 2009-08-11. Retrieved 2009-08-30.
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