"Eat local", a common phrase used around the world to encourage society to consider the environment, culture, and climate when consuming food. Have you ever thought about what local cuisine looks like in the Arctic Archipelago?

In the rugged region of Nunavut, food is an experience deeply intertwined with the land, the sea, and the traditions of the Inuit. Traditional Inuit food or better known as “Country Food” in Nunavut, holds a deep and soulful connection for many Inuit across the world. No matter the postal code, country food is packaged, flown and received with welcoming hands to provide Inuit a taste of home.

It is common to see the local Nunavut PSA Facebook pages seeking travellers on Arctic airlines to carry “soul food” down south to Inuit attending school in Ottawa. Nunavut Country Food is shipped to Inuit families who live across Canada, grandparents receiving medical treatment out of the territory, and Indigenous festivals and celebrations across Canada.

Where to Start?

So, what sorts of food make up country food in Nunavut? Regardless of where you are from, you are likely most familiar with Arctic Char. Some like it hot smoked, some like it cold maple smoked. Both are delicious options.

Then there is Pitsi, a traditional method of drying fish to be eaten in small chunks that melt in your mouth. But perhaps the simplest and most delicious way to eat Arctic Char is raw and fresh from the river. The moist pinkish-orange flesh literally melts in your mouth, offering an unforgettable sensory experience.

There are many other country food delicacies that evoke community, tradition and mouth-watering tastes. Tuktu (caribou) is common in the Kivalliq region and is enjoyed in stews, in stir-fry’s, among other cooked methods. However, enjoying it raw and frozen, chiselled with a hatchet on the land, is considered the ultimate serving suggestion.

Seal can be eaten in a similar way, with the fat often rendered into a potent smelling cooking oil, an acquired scent for many. Nanuq (Polar Bear) is a delicacy, boiled for hours, and often enjoyed as finger food. Muskox is lean, and when ground, is combined with a fattier meat to make melt-in-your-mouth burgers.

Muktuk (whale) is a treat served in an intricate design similar to Japanese food art. Ulu’s are used to create a grid like pattern on the blubber, and tiny morsels are often dipped in soya sauce before being popped in the mouth.

Then there are the berries.

Boreal blueberries (kigutangirnaq), cloudberries (aqpik), crowberries (paurngaq), and cranberries (kimminnaq) are just a few examples of the wild berries found in Nunavut.

These berries can be mixed with animal fat for a traditional Inuit delicacy or used over meats and cheeses in sweet and tart jams. There is nothing quite like having a bottom full of berry stains, feeling the cool Arctic breeze, and having your face smeared with berry juices while enjoying a day on the land in early autumn. But finding the best berry spots can be challenging, as locals like to keep their favourite gathering spots a well-kept secret!

Time to Taste

Several restaurants in Nunavut serve menus featuring country food, often in unique and creative ways. Iqaluit’s Granite Room, Black Heart Café, and the Frobisher Inn are your best bets for experiencing these innovative dishes.

While a country food store once existed in Iqaluit, it was discontinued in 2022. Today, the local Northmart grocery store has a small freezer stocked with frozen country food. Checking out the local buy and sell pages is also worth your time.

If you’re staying for a while and want to truly experience a variety of Arctic flavours in Iqaluit, the Qajuqturvik Food Centre has launched a Country Food Box Program. This program offers a taste of the North in a neatly packaged box, providing affordable and consistent access to country food while supporting local hunters.