Kuujjuarapik

Kuujjuarapik (Inuktitut: ᑰᔾᔪᐊᕌᐱᒃ) and neighbouring Whapmagoostui are twin villages with a total of about 1800 people (2021) in Nunavik in the far north of Quebec. Kuujjuarapik sits at the mouth of the Grande-Baleine River on the coast of Hudson Bay.

Understand

Kuujjuarapik is the southernmost Inuit village in Nunavik. The neighbouring Whapmagoostui is predominantly Cree.

Kuujjuarapik means "Little great river" in Inuktitut. It refers to the community at the mouth of the Great Whale River. The Cree community name Whapmagoostui means "where there are whales". Previously, these two villages were collectively referred to as "Great Whale River" in English and "Poste-de-la-Baleine" in French.

Get in

• 1 Kuujjuarapik Airport. Served by two airlines: Air Inuit and Air Creebec from Montreal. Air Inuit flights are daily while Air Creebec flies 3 times a week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday). Air Inuit also has flights from nearby communities: Radisson (La Grande), Sanikiluaq and Umiujaq. (updated Feb 2024)

Get around

You can get across town on foot in 20 mins.

If you don't want to walk, you can call a taxi. $7/person. $15/person for going to/coming from the airport.

• Runway Taxi, ☏ +1 867-213-0606. Cash only (updated Feb 2024)

See

• 1 Manitonuk Islands. To see wildlife (birds, seals, whales and belugas) (updated Feb 2024)
• Amitapanuch Falls which is 12 km upstream on Great Whale River
• The old church with a painting depicting Christ walking on the waters of the Great Whale River drawn by renowned Inuk artist Eddy Weetaluktuk

Buy

• 1 Kuujjuarapik Co-op store, ☏ +1 819-929-3266. M-F 10AM-7PM, Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 1-5PM. Grocery and hardware store. Also sells electronics and Inuit art. Soapstone sculptures made by artists from the region are sold for $225-300. (updated Feb 2024)
• 2 Northern Store. M-F 10AM-7PM, Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 1-5PM. Grocery store. Also has KFC and Tim Hortons.
  • Tim Hortons and KFC hours: M-F 9AM-6PM, Sa 10AM-6PM, Su Noon-5PM (updated Feb 2024)
• 3 Whale Mart Store, 406 Whapmakw, ☏ +1 819-929-9595. Opens from time to time. Check store website or phone ahead for operating dates and hours. Locally-run general store that sells everything from coats to country food. (updated Feb 2024)

Eat

• 1 Airport Restaurant, Av Henry Jamet (Just south of the hotel), ☏ +1 819-929-3606. M-Sa 8AM-7PM (closed Su). Fast food restaurant. Hot dog, poutine, pasta, soup, muffin, continental breakfast are on the menu. Hamburgers don't taste good but chicken is delicious. (updated Feb 2024)

Drink

• 1 Qilalugaq Pub, ☏ +1 819-929-3374. (updated Feb 2024)

Sleep

• 1 Kuujjuarapik Co-op Hotel, 1023 Av. Henry Jamet (Right across from airport terminal), ☏ +1 819-929-3734. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 10AM. Only hotel in town. Two-storey, 30-room hotel (no elevator) with individual bathrooms, WiFi, cable TV, communal kitchens, dining hall, exercise room and a reading room. Free access to laundry room from 5-9PM. $235. (updated Feb 2024)

Connect

Mobile call and data are provided by SSi Mobile/Qiniq. Only Rogers have roaming agreement in the community. There is no cellular service for Bell or Videotron customers.

Stay safe

• Police: Kuujjuarapik ☏ +1 819-929-9111, Eeyou Eenou ☏ +1 819-929-3700
• Fire: Kuujjuarapik ☏ +1 819-929-9000, Whapmagootsui ☏ +1 819-929-9110
• Nurse (on-call): ☏ +1 819-929-9090 or ☏ +1 819-929-3307