Cultural centre brings 2 nations together in Kuujjuaraapik and Whapmagoostui

Kuujjuaraapik’s Katittavik Cultural Centre has grown to become a meeting place for both Cree and Inuit in the area since it was inaugurated in 2017.

Katittavik Cultural Centre is located between the Inuit and Cree communities of Kuujjuaraapik and Whapmagoostui, making it a great place to gather. (Photo by Cedric Gallant)

Its goal: unite the two neighbouring nations under one roof.

The mouth of the Great Whale River is a historically important area along the Hudson Bay coast. At the centre of that history is the old St-Edmunds Anglican church.

The church was originally built in 1879 and moved to Kuujjuaraapik, where it stands today, in 1895.

A wooden bridge connects the church to the cultural centre.

“This building itself is for both sides of the community to use,” said Meghan Duhaime, Kuujjuaraapik’s director of sports, culture and recreation, in an interview inside the cultural centre’s lobby.

“It kind of blends and brings people together in a positive way.”

The 300-person capacity building is being used for cultural events that Whapmagoostui and Kuujjuaraapik residents host, including elders’ feasts and concerts. The venue also hosted a June 2025 visit from Inuk former pro hockey player Jordin Tootoo.

“It is really good for the community, because we have a lot of events that happen on both sides,” said David Kawapit, co-ordinator for the centre.

He points out that both communities will host their own version of events, such as the winter games competitions, on the same day. To have a place where people from both communities can commune only tightens their bonds.

Kawapit wants to scale up the number of activities by showing movies at the centre.

“It is its own experience that I think people would like to take some time to do, coming out to just watch the trilogy of The Lord of the Rings or something like that,” he said.

He also wants to bring a music program to the community. The culture centre already has musical instruments, microphones and a high-quality sound system in storage.

“A lot of times, youth don’t have access to this stuff,” says Kawapit, adding a music program could allow participants to discover a new passion.

Not only does Katittavik bring the Cree and Inuit of Whapmagoostui/Kuujjuaraapik closer together, its capacity to host big events also brings more eyes to the dual communities from elsewhere.

“It brings a lot of connection to the community,” says Duhaime. “Those experiences in themselves are wonderful to the community, exposure to other things.”