Pitsiulartok or Pituilaktok (formerly Fairway Island)[1] is a small, uninhabited island located at 63°15'N, 90°33'W[2] in Hudson Bay, about 13 km[3] from the community of Chesterfield Inlet, Nunavut, Canada. The narrow island is about 3.5 km in length and barely 1 km wide at its widest point. Traditionally it was a walrus-hunting ground for the local Inuit,[2] and a landmark for southern whalers.[4] It is part of a loose chain of small islands running along the coast, including Sakpik Island and Promise Island.

The name "Pituilaktok" comes from the Inuktitut name for a local bird known in English as the black guillemot (cepphus grylle), "pitiula".[5]

References

  1. ^ "Renaming the North". explorenorth.com. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
  2. ^ a b COSEWIC COMMITTEE ON THE STATUS OF ENDANGERED WILDLIFE IN CANADA. "COSEWIC Assessment and Update Status Report on the Atlantic Walrus Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus in Canada" (2006). Ottawa, ON. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. ^ "Geographic features & Photographs around Chesterfield Inlet, in Nunavut, Canada". travelingluck.com. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
  4. ^ Barr, William (2004). Red Serge and Polar Bear Pants: The Biography of Harry Stallworthy. University of Alberta. p. 59. ISBN 0-88864-433-7. Fairway Island +Chesterfield.
  5. ^ Arctic Institute of North America. "Eskimo Bird Names at Chesterfield Inlet and Baker Lake, Keewatin, Northwest Territories" (PDF). ucalgary.com. Retrieved 2008-04-15.