When you first arrive to Arviat, you will most likely be overwhelmed by the simplicity, isolation, and - in the winter - bitter cold that accompany small-town northern living. It is important to discard any preconceptions and take time to acquaint yourself with the 'Inuit way'.  Enjoy a Guided Tour around Arviat, the sooner you get involved in community events, the better. Immerse yourself in the culture and have fun!

Arviat has grown steadily since its humble debut as a remote trading post. Residents include Inuit of differing ancestry - Pallirmiut, the Ahiarmiut, (made famous by Farley Mowat) and various groups who travelled from different parts of Nunavut to settle here. Arviat is known for its rich cultural roots and strong grounding in the Inuktitut language. Arviat today is both far removed and yet easily accessed. It is the southern-most community of mainland Nunavut – only a short 40-minute flight north of Manitoba – and yet its people are profoundly steeped in tradition.

The people here are a mix of the inland Caribou Inuit and the coastal Inuit more dependent on the sea for survival. Located in an area of diverse ecosystems with extremely rich wildlife, people in Arviat continue to actively harvest – most families continue to depend on “country” food.

The art, the archaeology, and the oral-history all reflect these origins, and provide the visitor with a unique immersion in the vibrant Inuit culture which survives in Arviat. Young people are carrying on traditions using new media and to enhance their music and art.

Arviat offers a National Historic site, a Visitors Center, tour guides, artistic shows, dog team rides, wildlife viewing and much more. Annual events include caribou and polar bear migrations. You can count on a warm welcome – that is the Inuit tradition.