Title: Nunavik, Arctic Quebec: where cooperatives supplement entrepreneurship

Authors: Leo Paul Dana

Addresses: GSCM Montpellier; University of Canterbury, Dept. of Management, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand

Abstract: Prior to contact with Europeans, Ungava Inuit who inhabited the Quebec-Labrador Peninsula was self-sufficient, with a subsistence economy and inter-cultural trade. They lived in small bands, each consisting of a few families, and they fished, gathered, hunted, and migrated as required. Traditionally, food was shared. Europeans introduced foreign languages, religions, and values along with a capitalist economy. Today, Anglican is the dominant religion in Northern Quebec, formerly known as Ungava and now known as Nunavik; yet, the Inuit have retained their language, a strong sense of identity, and community values. In this context, cooperatives have dominated the business realm since their introduction in the late 1950s. Non-Inuit – called Qallunaaq and meaning |big high brows| – are a minority here.

Keywords: cooperatives; collective entrepreneurship; Hunter Support Program; Arctic; Nunavik; Inuit; Nunavimmiut; self-employment; Ungava; Quebec-Labrador Peninsula; Canada; self-sufficiency; subsistence economies; inter-cultural trade; bands; tribes; language; capitalism; religion; Anglican Church; Anglicanism; community values; Qallunaaq; minorities; global business; economics; ethnicity; cultural diversity; entrepreneurship.

DOI: 10.1504/GBER.2010.032317

Global Business and Economics Review, 2010 Vol.12 No.1/2, pp.42 - 71

Published online: 31 Mar 2010 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article