(Redirected from Ovayok Territorial Park, Nunavut)
Looking north towards Ovayok
'Ovayok Territorial Park' (sometimes 'Uvajuq', formerly 'Mount Pelly') is a park situated 15
km (9
mi) east of
Cambridge Bay,
Nunavut,
Canada. The park is relatively small and covers an area of approximately 16 km² (6 sq mi). The park can be accessed by vehicle from the community as a gravel road runs directly to it.
The park has a wide variety of wildlife with
Muskox being predominant, however it's also possible to see
Barren-ground Caribou,
Arctic Hare,
arctic fox, and
North American Brown Lemmings. There are several lakes within the park and most contain
Arctic char and
Lake trout. Birds include
Arctic Terns,
Ptarmigan,
Canada Geese,
Snowy Owls and, of course,
Ravens.
There are several
archaeological sites within the park and these include tent rings and food caches.
Thule and Palaeo-Eskimo camp sites and artifacts has also been found nearby, suggesting that the area has been in use for at least a 1,000 years.
The predominant feature of the park is the large
esker known as Ovayok (Mount Pelly) that rises to approximately 183 meters (600 feet). Behind this are two more eskers called Inuuhuktu (Baby Pelly) and Amaaqtuq (Lady Pelly).
Inuit legend says that the three hills are a family of starving
giants. They were crossing
Victoria Island looking for food and the father, Ovayok, died first. Next the son, Inuuhuktu (
English; "son"
[ Inuuhuktu ], died and was followed by the mother, Amaaqtuq (English; "packing baby"
[1], see
amauti) , who was carrying her baby.

Inuuhuktu (Baby Pelly) and Amaaqtuq (Lady Pelly)

Sign at the park
References
1. Websters Online
★ Nunavut Handbook - Joe Otokiak
★ Cambridge Bay Elders
★
Nunavut Parks
See also
★
Kitikmeot Region
★
List of Nunavut parks
External links
★
Central Arctic - Cambridge Bay