Description of Historic Place

Located 40kms southeast of Rankin Inlet, Marble Island has a long history of diverse use. Inuit first came to the island as seasonal hunters, taking advantage of its wide variety of wildlife; European explorers were then followed by Scottish and American whalers. Composed not really of marble but large veins of quartzite, the island has long captured the imagination of travelers.

Unikkausiuninga:
40 kilumiita Kangiqliniup nigiqpasianiiluni, uqsuriak atuqtaurjuaqpalauqsimavuq ajjigiinngiruluujaqtunut. inuit sivulliqpaamik taikunngarnngalauqtut qikiqtamut angunasugiaqlutik arraaguup iluani, taingna ajjigiinngiruluujaqtunik nirjutitaqaurninganut pinajugvigijaqtuqlugu; tariup akianirmiut tauvunngaqtut kingunittiangani sikkaatsimiunik tauvunngaujuqalauqsimangmijuq ammailaak amialikkamiunit arvagasuktinik. taanna qikiqtaq tunnuujatuinnaunngittumik ujaraqaqluni, kisianittauq angijukallangnik tukimuangajunik quartzite-nguniraqtaujunik, taanna qikiqtaq tauvunngaqpalauqtunit qanuruluujaq isumaqaqviuqattaqsimavuq.

Heritage Value

According to Inuit legend, Marble Island was created from a sheet of ice by an elderly woman who wished to remain there forever. Visitors still craw up its shoreline to show respect to her ever-present spirit.

The island is linked to one of the most enduring mysteries of arctic exploration. The Knight Expedition set out from England in search of the Northwest Passage in 1719. Three years later, sailors found evidence its crew had been marooned on Marble Island. Although Inuit recalled men living on the island until 1721, few graves were ever found and the fate of the forty-men of the Knight Expedition remains a mystery.

In the 1760s and 1780s, Hudson Bay Company whalers were attracted to Marble Island because of its sheltered harbour. American and Scottish whalers were later stationed on the island during the 1860s and 1870s. The foundation of a theatre they built there still exists. Several Inuit families also settled in temporary camps on the island during this period; taking advantage of trading, social and work opportunities while retaining their own cultural traditions.

Eventually, storms and sickness took their toll on the whalers. Dozens of graves can be found in the area today; along with several shipwrecks. By the start of the twentieth century, the island was largely left to the wind, waves and hunters once more. A winter haven for some and a final resting place for others, Marble Island maintains a legacy of mystery and myth to this day.

qanuiliurviuvalaurninganut annirnarninga:
inuit unikkaaqtuangit uqaqsimaningit maliklugit, taanna uqsuriaq pitaqaliqtitaulauqsimajuq saattumit tuvarmit ningiurmu taikanirmiutaunnginnaujarumalilauqsimajumut. taikunngaujut suli paarnnguqpaktut sigjangagut nunamut ikpigittiarumamut taassuma ningiup taikaniinginnaujaqtuup tarninganik.

uqsuriak ataniqarivuq ilangannut kajusijumut suli qaujijaujunnanngittunut ukiuqtaqtumi namunngaunirijauvalauqtunut. Knight-kut namunngaunirijangat inngalaminngaaqluni qiniriaqluni sullualungmik 1719-ngutillugu. arraaguit pingasut aniguqsimaliqtillugit, umiaqtuqtiit qaujijjutiksanik nanisililauqtut taakkua umiaqtuqtiit ajuqsisimalauqsimaninginnik uqsuriami umiarjuangat qanigijangani suraktiallalauqtillugu. inuit iqqaumajaqaraluaqtillugit angutinik taikani qikiqtamiittuqalauqsimaninganik 1721-ngurasuktillugu, ununngittukulungnik taikani iluviqsiaqtuqalauqtuq qanuilingalilauqsimaningillu Knight-kut namunngauvalliatillugit suli qaujimajaunngilaq.

1760-ni 1780-nilu, niuviqtikkunnut arvagasuktiit uqsuriangmuarajulauqtut uqquisimavvittiaringninganut. amialikkamiut sikkaatsimiullu arvagasuktiit taikani qikiqtamiiqattalaurmijut 1860-ni 1870-nilu. tunngavingit qunngiariaqturviliarijaviniata taikani suli ullumi takujaujunnaqput. qassikallait inuit ilagiit taikanirmiutaulaukalaurmijut qikiqtami taakkuninga inuqaqtillugu; taikaniinnirmini tauqsiiqatiqaqpaklutik, inuuqatiqaqpaklutik piliriaksaniglu piliriaqaqtitauvaklutik iliqqusituqarmini atuujaarjuklutik.

qangannguqpallianinga maliklugu, silaluqattarnit qanimanirlu atuqtaulariqattalauqpuuk arvagasuktinit. qassikallangnik iluvirnik tauvani ullumi takujuqarunnaqtuq, qassikallangniglu umiarjuanik kivinikunik. 1900 arraaguit pigialisaaqtillugit, taanna qikiqtaq inuqanngittialilauqtuq anuraatuinnaqpakluni, mallituinnaqpakluni angunasuktunillu upaktaulausungaqpakluni. ukiukkut ilanginnit inigijauvangniqluni ilanginnillu iluviqarviuliqluni, taanna uqsuriak qanuiliurviuvaktutuqaviniuvuq nalunaqlutiglu unikkaaqtuaniititauliqlunilu ullumimut tikillugu.

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements include:
- Sacred Inuit creation story associated with Marble Island.
- Unique geology with low tundra vegetation
- Inuit stone tent rings and kayak rests
- The wreck of Knight’s 80-tonne frigate, the Albany.
- Foundation of house built by Knight Expedition
- Hiking trails worn into the tundra around the island
- The wreck of the whaling vessel Orray Taft, visible from shore in calm water
- Monument commemorating the whaling vessel Abbie Bradford

qanuittuuninganut nalunaiqsittiarunnaqtut ukuninga ilaqaqput:
- inuit unikkaaqtuattiavangat sanajaulauqsimanirmut unikkaangulluni aktuaniqaqluni uqsuriamut.
- ajjiqannginninga nunangata attiktumi nunami piruqtuqaqluni
- inuit tupirviqarviviningit qajarnullu ikaarviviningit
- kivisimajuq Knight-guuq 80-tan-ngulluni umiarjuavivininga atiqaqluni imanna, Albany.
- tunngavingit iglurjuaviniup sanajaunikuup Knight-kut namunngauvallianirmini
- pisujugluni aqqusiniit nunami takuksaullutik tavvani qikiqtami
- qiviniku arvagasuktiit umiarjuaviningat una, Orray Taft, takujaujunnaqpakluni sigjamit uqsuaqtillugu
- nappaqtausimajuq iqqaumajjutaulluni arvagasuktiit umiarjuavininganik uuminga, Abbie Bradford