Holman changes name to reinvigorate culture

The Inuvialuit community of Holman on the west coast of Victoria Island is changing its name.

As of April 1, Holman will be known as Ulukhaktok, roughly meaning "a large bluff where we used to collect raw material to make ulus".

The announcement was made Monday in the N.W.T. Legislative Assembly.

Holman's name change is just one of more than 300 Inuinnaqtun and Inuvialuktun place names in the Victoria Island and Coronation Gulf areas of the Northwest Territories that are becoming official under the N.W.T. Geographical and Community Names Policy.

The names identify land and water features, as well, as gathering places and camps.

The MLA for Nunakput, Calvin Pokiak, says the community of 470 wants the change.

"Well I'm happy for the people of Holman – Ulukhatok – because that's what they wanted and I'm glad the minister is following through with the recommendation," he said. "The people over there are looking towards their culture, and going back and naming Holman "Ulukhaktok" will bring that a lot closer to their culture."

Holman was named after a 19th century explorer who discovered the settlement while searching for the Northwest Passage.

Community members voted in favour of the name change last December.

Holman, or Ulukhaktok, joins 14 other communities in the N.W.T. that have changed back to their aboriginal-language place names.