Nattilik Heritage Centre, Indigenous heritage museum in Gjoa Haven, Canada
The Nattilik Heritage Centre is a museum in Gjoa Haven that documents Inuit traditions through displays of hunting equipment, fishing tools, and handcrafted objects. The collections show how these practices developed and changed over time through the knowledge of local families.
The museum opened in 2013 and grew from the community's connection to Franklin's 1845 expedition, during which two ships became trapped in Arctic ice. Local knowledge played a role in understanding what happened to the vessels and the waters surrounding Gjoa Haven.
The centre reflects how Inuit communities developed sophisticated techniques for living in Arctic conditions, with knowledge passed down through families and still visible in local practices. Visitors observe how these skills shape daily life and remain central to local identity.
The museum has a dedicated space where visitors can buy handcrafted artworks made by local Inuit artists. Plan enough time to walk through the displays, as each section offers detailed information worth taking in slowly.
The museum holds Inuit knowledge that contributed to finding two lost ships from the 1800s, making this deep understanding of Arctic waters visible to visitors. This link between local expertise and historical discovery remains central to how the community sees itself.
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