A quiet, traditional Inuit hamlet on the shores of Arviligjuaq, Kugaaruk is shaped by sea ice, wildlife, and the enduring culture of the Arviligjuarmiut.

About the Community
Kugaaruk sits on the southeastern shore of Arviligjuaq, just off the Gulf of Boothia on the Simpson Peninsula in Nunavut’s Kitikmeot Region. Kugaaruk name means “little stream,” referring to a local brook that flows through the community, and the area is also known as Arviligjuaq “place of many bowhead whales.”

History
The historical Inuit of the area are the Arviligjuarmiut, closely tied to the Netsilik Inuit and descendants of the ancient Thule people. European contact came relatively late compared with many other regions. The hamlet officially changed its name from Pelly Bay to Kugaaruk on December 3, 1999, reclaiming its traditional Inuktitut place name.

What the Co-op Provides
Kugaaruk’s Co-op supports daily life in this remote community by supplying essential groceries, household goods, and practical supplies, while contributing to local employment and steady access to necessities through the Co-op network.

Quick Facts

• Kugaaruk name meaning: “Little stream”
• Also known as: Arviligjuaq

Meanings & Phonetic Spelling
• Co-op Name Phonetic Pronunciation: KOO-me-oot
• Full Co-op Name Syllabics: ᑰᒻᒥᐅᑦ ᑯᐊᐸᒃᑯᑦ ᑎᒥᖁᑎᖓᑦ
• Primary Indigenous Nation: Inuit
• Community Name Syllabics: ᑰᒑᕐᔪᒃ
• Community Phonetic Pronunciation: KOO-gah-ruk