080121-08MN006-Sabina Hackett River Project Proposal ... - NIRB

Description of the Existing Environmentdwellings recorded at 407 in 2006 (Statistics Canada, 2007). This growth is associated with theincreased number of employment opportunities in the community, within both the governmentand resource sectors (Rescan, 2007). Of the 1,210 population in 2001, 1120 residents (93%)were Inuit, with a median age of 20.9 (Statistics Canada 2002).Residents undertake a variety of land based activities including trapping, hunting and fishing aswell as arts and craft. In 2001, 61% of adult residents hunted for food, 75% fished for food, 60%gathered wild food for plants and 13% trapped (Statistics Canada 2002). These figures areslightly higher than statistics for the Nunavut region as a whole.There are approximately 37 businesses operating in the community, accounting for 22% of allbusinesses in the region (Zinifex, 2007). The Inuit population own 68% of these businesses,which offer a range of goods and services, including contracting and equipment businesses,retail, tourism as well as accommodation and food services.The principle forms of economic activity are centered on hunting, fishing, trapping, gardening,tourism, working within the government and mineral exploration. Inuit men are largelyemployed in trades, transport and equipment operations while Inuit women tend to work inbusiness, finance and administrative occupations, social science, education, government servicesand sales (Zinifex, 2007). In 2001, 640 Inuit residents aged 15 and over were creating income.Their mean total income was $12,880, of which approximately 74.1% was derived fromearnings. Government transfers represented 20.3% of this income. Unemployment wasestimated at 26.2% (Statistics Canada, 2002).Services in the community include two stores, an RCMP station, kindergarten and high schools,Arctic College annex, churches, health centre, rehabilitation centre, library and recreation centrewith ice rink, golf course and Visitor’s and Heritage Centre6.3.6.6 Gjoa HavenGjoa Haven is located on south-eastern shore of King William Island, 1056km northeast ofYellowknife. It is the only settlement on King William Island, with air services operating out ofGjoa airport.Census data shows that the population of Gjoa Haven has grown strongly for over a decade by39% from 783 persons in 1991 to 1,064 persons in 2006, with 246 private dwellings recorded in2006 (Statistics Canada, 2007). The population has approximately multiplied by 10 since 1961,when the population was just 110 people. In 2001, 925 persons (96%) out of the 960 residentswere Inuit, with a median age of 19 years (Statistics Canada, 2002).Hunting and fishing have long been regarded as important economic activities in the community.In 2001, 59% of adult residents hunted for food, 68% fished for food, 19% gathered wild foodfor plants and 9% trapped (Statistics Canada, 2002). These figures more or less correlate withstatistics for the Nunavut region as a whole.There are approximately 26 businesses operating in the community, representing 15% of allbusinesses in the region (Zinifex, 2007). The Inuit population own 50% of these businesses,January 2008 Hackett River Project – Project Proposal Sabina Silver CorporationReport Version B.1 6–37 Rescan Environmental Services Ltd. (Proj. #833-2)