Paulatuk, Territorial hamlet in Northwest Territories, Canada
Paulatuk is a hamlet on Darnley Bay in the Amundsen Gulf with direct access to hunting and fishing territories. The settlement sits on Arctic tundra where residents depend on traditional practices for food and subsistence.
The Roman Catholic Church established a trading post here in 1935, which led to permanent European settlement. Before this, the area had been home only to Indigenous peoples who hunted and fished these northern lands.
The name Paulatuk comes from the Inuvialuktun language and refers to coal deposits in the area. Residents create art and crafts that reflect their daily connection to the Arctic environment and the animals around them.
The Northern Store is the main place to buy groceries and supplies in the hamlet. The Paulatuk Hotel provides rooms with private bathrooms and access to a shared kitchen for guests.
Local artists carve soapstone, caribou antlers, and muskox horns into sculptures that reflect their Arctic home. These handmade pieces are created from materials that come directly from the land and animals around them.
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