Tourists damage Native site

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Iqaluit

Visitors to the historic Inuit dwelling place near here have been damaging the site looking for artifacts, says Regional Tourism officer David Monteith.

Although people caught disturbing the site or removing artifacts without a permit are in violation of N.W.T. regulations and may be charged, many tourists continue to remove priceless artifacts.

Particularly hard hit is the Qaummaarviit site located at Peale Point near Iqaluit. The site contains a number of semi-subterranean stone houses, kayak stands, graves and food caches from the Thule period. It was extensively excavated by archaeologists a number of years ago.

Qaummaarviit is now being developed by the Department of Economic Development as a historical site for local people and visitors, however, much has been lost as some of the rock walls of the Thule houses have been torn down, whale bones and ribs once used as roof supports have been taken from the site and some digging has been done.