Kangiqsujuaq woman, 59, dies on the land

SARAH ROGERS

A 59-year-old Nunavik woman has been found dead outside the village of Kangiqsujuaq.

Atittuq Kiatainaq left Kangiqsujuaq by herself last Saturday, Dec. 12 on a four-wheeler en route to Akulivik, and a nearby cove and camp, according to police and sources in the community.

When she didn’t return, the community organized a search Dec. 13.

Kiatainaq’s frozen body was found the same day.

The Kativik Regional Police Force has concluded that the woman’s death is not suspicious, said Robert Mackey, a senior communications officer with the Kativik Regional Government.

Residents of Kangiqsujuaq say Kiatainaq travelled by four-wheeler to her destination several kilometres away, only a week after the community received a record amount of snowfall.

Most suspect Kiatainaq’s vehicle broke down and she was unable to return to the village on foot.

Temperatures in Kangiqsujuaq hovered around -18 last weekend, but felt colder due to wind chill.