Over the past few years, support has been growing rapidly for Inuit and Indian communities who want to change the
name of their community back to what it was before whites renamed it. This process
has not always occured without animosity, but in almost all cases, arguments have faded away rapidly once the "new" name was in place.
The Inuit in northern Quebec were the first to gain substantial recognition of the right to use their own
names for their communities. In 1981, seven community name changes were recognized by Canada Post.
The extensive lists following contain all of the geographic place names in the 3 Canadian territories that have both a Euro-Canadian name,
and a different historic name. The top list is for those whose names have been officially changed, the much longer second one is for those which still have
2 names. There are undoubtedly some I've missed - if you know of any, please drop me a line with the information.
Former Name
|
New Name,
Date of Change
|
|
Arctic Red River
|
Tsiigehtchic (1994)
|
|
Cambridge Bay
|
Ikaluktutiak
|
|
Central Arctic (district)
|
Kitikmeot (1999)
|
|
Chesterfield Inlet
|
Igluligaarjuk
|
|
Coppermine
|
Kugluktuk (1996)
|
|
Coral Harbour
|
Salliq
|
|
Eskimo Point
|
Arviat (1989)
|
|
Fort Franklin
|
Deline (1993)
|
|
Fort Norman
|
Tulit'a (1996)
|
|
Frobisher Bay
|
Iqaluit (1987)
|
|
Hall Beach
|
Sanirajak
|
|
Holman
|
Uluqsaqtuuq (2006)
|
|
Keewatin (district)
|
Kivalliq (1999)
|
|
Lac la Martre
|
Wha Ti (1996)
|
|
Lake Harbour
|
Kimmirut (1996)
|
|
Port Brabant
|
Tuktoyaktuk (1950)
|
|
Resolute
|
Qausuittuq
|
|
Snowdrift
|
Lutselk'e (1992)
|
|
Spence Bay
|
Taloyoak (1992)
|
Names Not Officially Changed
Official Name
|
Inuktitut Name
|
|
Arctic Bay
|
Tununirusiq
|
|
Back River North
|
Utkosiksalik
|
|
Back River South
|
Senningayok
|
|
Baffin (district)
|
Qikiqtaaluk
|
|
Baffin Island
|
Omanerdjuark
|
|
Baker Lake
|
Kramaniktuar
|
|
Beaverly Lake
|
Akkilinerk
|
|
Bellot Strait
|
Ikkerasar
|
|
Black Lead Island
|
Omanerdjuark
|
|
Broughton Island
|
Qikiqtarjuaq
|
|
Burnside
|
Kingark / Kringau
|
|
Burwell & Mackenzie (district)
|
Kidlinerk
|
|
Cape Dorset
|
Kinngait
|
|
Cape Smith
|
Kekertauyak
|
|
Chimo River
|
Kuujjuaq
|
|
Churchill
|
Kuugjuaraaluk
|
|
Churchill River
|
Kuujjuaq
|
|
Clyde River
|
Kangiqtugaapik
|
|
Coats Island
|
Akpatordjuark
|
|
Davis Inlet
|
Ukkusitsalik
|
|
Depot Island
|
Pikiulerk
|
|
Diana Bay
|
Tuwaluk
|
|
Duke of York Bay
|
Akrearornert
|
|
Edgell Islands
|
Tujjaat
|
|
Fairway Island
|
Pitsiulartok
|
|
Fullerton
|
Kattiktalik
|
|
Garry Bay
|
Alanaryuk
|
|
Gjoa Haven
|
Oqsuqtooq
|
|
Goose Bay
|
Vaali
|
|
Grise Fiord
|
Ausuittuq, Aujuittuq
|
|
Happy Valley
|
Vaali
|
|
Harrison
|
Inugdjuark
|
|
Igloolik
|
Iglulik
|
|
Kazan River
|
Sagvartok
|
|
King William Island
|
Oksortok
|
|
Leaf Bay
|
Tasseuyak
|
|
Loks Land
|
Takuligjuaq
|
|
Mansel Island
|
Putjurnark
|
|
Marble Island
|
Oksoreak
|
|
McKeand River
|
Qamanialuk; Kuugaaluk
|
|
Minto Inlet
|
Kangeruatsiak
|
|
Mistake Bay
|
Tinnitsortok / Korviuyardjuk
|
|
Nain
|
Naini
|
|
Nottingham Island
|
Tujjaat
|
|
Padlei
|
Kingarvalik
|
|
Pelly Bay
|
Aqvilikjuaq / Kuraryuk
|
|
Perry River
|
Kuujjuaq
|
|
Pond Inlet
|
Mittimatalik
|
|
Povangitok
|
Povernittok
|
|
Prince River
|
Akkilasardjuk
|
|
Rabbit Island
|
Naukorvik
|
|
Rankin Inlet
|
Kangerdlinerk
|
|
Read Island
|
Kekertardjuk
|
|
Repulse Bay
|
Naujaat / Aivilik
|
|
Resolution Island
|
Tujjaat
|
|
Richardson Island
|
Nagdjurtok
|
|
Rigolet
|
Tikiraqsuarusik
|
|
Salisbury Island
|
Akulliq
|
|
Southamption Island
|
Sadlert
|
|
Tavanee
|
Korviuyardjuk
|
|
Tern Point
|
Tikerardjuark
|
|
Thelon River
| Kurk / Kork
|
|
Thom Bay
|
Ikpik
|
|
Wager Inlet
|
Utkosiksalik / Tasseuyak
|
|
Walkham Bay
|
Kangerdludjuark
|
|
Walrus Island
|
Akpatorardjuk
|
|
Whale Cove
|
Tikirajuaq
|
|
Whale River
|
Unguniarvik
|
|
Wolstenholme
|
Kangerdlukadlak
|
Communities Index
