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Paulatuk, NWT, incorporated as a hamlet in 1987, population 298 (2021 census), 265 (2016 census). The Hamlet of Paulatuk, also known as Paulatuuq, dates back to the early 1920s when several Inuit settled at this site on Darnley Bay. The name Paulatuk means "place of coal" or "soot of coal" in Inuvialuktun and refers to the coal early settlers found nearby and used for heating. Paulatuk is known as the Southwind Capital of the Arctic.
Description
In 1935, the Roman Catholic mission opened a trading post at Paulatuk, and in the 1950s, a DEW-Line site was built in the community. The DEW-Line base provided new jobs and a shift to wage labour in the community. However, traditional occupations like hunting, fishing and trapping remain the mainstays of the local economy. Residents of Paulatuk are also known for their skill in traditional handicrafts and carving. In recent years, oil and natural gas exploration on the Beaufort Sea has also offered other economic opportunities for the community. Tuktut Nogait National Park, 40 km east of the hamlet, was established through the efforts of the residents of Paulatuk. Paulatuk remains the nearest community to Tuktut Nogait National Park and the Horton River.
