Nanuit Itillinga National Wildlife Area

Nanuit Itillinga (formerly known as Polar Bear Pass) National Wildlife Area (NWA), in Nunavut, supports many bird species and some mammals including species at risk such as Peary caribou.

Description

Nanuit Itillinga NWA is located on Bathurst Island. This is in the heart of the Canadian Arctic archipelago. The NWA is 263, 648 hectares (ha) in size. This makes it one of the largest NWA’s in Canada.

The NWA has unusual gathering and diversity of wildlife for its latitude. The area consists of a valley bordered by low hills up to 240 metres high. It has large wetlands where polygon ground patterns and other rarities exist, caused by frost and thaw cycles. Covering the floor of the valley is a relatively thick mat, including:

• lichens
• mosses
• sedges
• grasses
• flowering plants
• dwarf shrubs

The surrounding ridges are mostly desert, as is around 95% of the Canadian High Arctic.

The NWA supports at least 54 species of birds. This includes 30 breeding species, particularly waterfowl and shorebirds. Red phalarope are likely the most abundant nesting species. Brant also breed here, but this population migrates over Greenland to winter in Ireland. Various species of mammals occur in the NWA including:

• Arctic fox
• wolf
• lemmings
• muskoxen
• peary caribou

Peary caribou is an endangered species under the Species at Risk Act. Its populations have fluctuated dramatically over the years.

As the NWA name implies, polar bears pass through the area in spring and summer. They do so on their way to Graham Moore Bay, to the southwest. This is an important feeding area where they find walrus and ringed seals.

Several studies by High Arctic field research station had been conducted. These studies serve as the source of much scientific information on Arctic flora and fauna. From 1968-1993, the National Museum of Natural Sciences operated the research station. They conducted studies on the life histories and behavioral adaptations of arctic animals at Polar Bear Pass. As a result, the Bracebridge-Goodsir Inlet area was first identified for protection under the International Biological Program (IBP) in the 1970's. The area was declared a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention in 1982.

Nanuit Itillinga (Polar Bear Pass) was designated as a NWA in September 1986, due to many consultations with:

• industry
• native groups
• public
• other interested parties

Find more information on the Nanuit Itillinga NWA in the summary table below.

Management

Under the Canada Wildlife Act, NWAs are protected and managed in accordance with the Wildlife Area Regulations. The primary purpose of NWAs is to protect and conserve wildlife and wildlife habitat. For this purpose and according to the legislation, all activities in a NWA that could interfere with the conservation of wildlife can be prohibited. Consequently, most NWAs are not accessible to the public and all other activities are prohibited in all NWAs. However, some activities may be authorized through Schedule I.1 of the Wildlife Area Regulations or the issuance of permits as long as they are consistent with the management plan goals for the NWA. For more information, consult the NWA Management and Activities section.

Nanuit Itillinga NWA is managed by the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) of Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and Inuit from Resolute Bay, NU as part of a co-management agreement established through the Inuit Impact and Benefit Agreement for National Wildlife Areas and Migratory Bird Sanctuaries in the Nunavut Settlement Area (IIBA). The Sulukvaut Area Co-Management Committee (ACMC) was formed through the IIBA and provides advice on all aspects of NWA management and all significant policy decisions affecting the NWA, including Inuit use of the NWA, permit applications, research conducted within the NWA, visitor use of the area, and management and protection of wildlife and wildlife habitat.

In Nunavut, Nunavut Inuit, as per the Nunavut Agreement (NA), can hunt wildlife, including the collection of migratory bird eggs and feathers for their economic, social and cultural needs (Section 5 of the NA). Access to  Nanuit Itillinga NWA by anyone other than Inuit enrolled under the NA is restricted; therefore, any non-Nunavut Inuit must obtain a permit to access or conduct any activity within the Nanuit Itillinga NWA. Activities that may be permitted will be in accordance with the conservation objectives of the NWA management plan (currently in development).

More information on access and permitting for Nanuit Itillinga NWA can be obtained by contacting the Environment and Climate Change Canada regional office.

Map of the area

This map is for illustrative purposes only and should not be used to define legal boundaries.

Summary table

Note: If there is a discrepancy between the information presented on this web page, any notice posted at the NWA site and the law, the law prevails.

Contact us

Environment and Climate Change Canada - Northern Region
Canadian Wildlife Service
Protected Areas and Stewardship
Eastern Arctic Unit
P. O. Box 1870
Iqaluit, Nunavut
X0A 0H0

Toll-free: 1-800-668-6767 (in Canada only)
Email: enviroinfo@ec.gc.ca

Related links

• Canada Wildlife Act
• Wildlife Area Regulations
• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
• Nanuit Itillinga NWA pamphlet
• Nanuit Itillinga NWA on Google Maps (Please note that the Google map is a complementary source of information and does not represent the official map or site name)