Umiujaq means "which resembles a boat" in Inuktitut. It is a community of 541 inhabitants situated at the foot of a hill that resembles an overturned boat near the Hudson Bay.Umiujaq is approximately 160 km north of Kuujjuarapik and almost 1500 km north of Montreal.
The village of Umiujaq was founded in 1986 following a clause added to the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement which provided the Inuit of Kuujjuarapik the opportunity to relocate to an area not affected by the La Grande and Great Whale hydro-electric projects.
The Umiujaq Cooperative Association was incorporated in 1985 and joined the Fédération des coopératives du Nouveau-Québec in 1999.
The village of Umiujaq was founded in 1986 following a clause added to the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement which provided the Inuit of Kuujjuarapik the opportunity to relocate to an area not affected by the La Grande and Great Whale hydro-electric projects.
The Umiujaq Cooperative Association was incorporated in 1985 and joined the Fédération des coopératives du Nouveau-Québec in 1999.
The Art
The artists from Umiujaq will often use olive-green argillite, found on the nearby island of Sanikiluaq, to carve beautiful streamlined and smooth sculptures. Umiujaq does not have a large carving community but their work is often of high quality.
Notable artists (past and present) include:
- Jobie Crow
- Gilbert Inukpuk
- Daniel Sala
- Joshua Sala