There are a couple of theories as to the origin of the name "Makkovik". "Vik" is an Inuktitut word meaning "place". "Makko" may be a corruption of the name Marcoux. Pierre Marcoux was a French trader in labrador in the late 1700's. Another theory states that Makko refers to the Inuktitut word for "two", maggok. Around Makkovik, there are two main inlets, Makkovik Harbour and Makkovik Bay. As well, there are two main brooks flowing into the two inlets.

The Inuit and their ancestors have occupied the extended region for thousands of years. The modern community of Makkovik dates back to 1860 when Torsten Kverna Andersen, a Norweigan immigrant, established a small trading post with his wife Mary Ann Thomas. They had been living further up Makkovik Bay; at the time, Makkovik Harbour was called Flounder's Bight. Andersen had come to Labrador in the 1850's to work for the Hudson Bay Company.

During the late 1800's the settler and Inuit population of the area increased, and in 1896, the Moravians chose Makkovik as the site of their most southerly mission station. They built a church and mission house and, in 1916, a boarding school. The church and mission house were unfortunately destroyed by fire in 1948.

The first permanent settlers came to the area as craftsmen or sailors, and settled as hunters, trappers and fishermen. The rich fishing grounds off Makkovik attracted schooners from Newfoundland and contributed to the community's early growth as a supply and service centre.

In the 1950's, Inuit people from Nutak and Hebron were re-settled to Makkovik (over 150 in all). Some of them later moved back up north, to Nain and Hopedale.

A DEW Line radar station was constructed at Cape Makkovik in the early 1950's, which provided some local employment for a few years. To view some pictures of the radar station and surrounding area click on the link below.

http://www.pinetreeline.org/gap/photocm.html

Current residents of Makkovik are of Inuit and Settler origin; 90 percent are listed as aboriginal in the 2001 Census.

Makkovik is rich in natural and cultural heritage. The extended region (Makkovik is midway between Hopedale and Cape Harrison) is immeasurably rich in natural heritage resources, including many offshore islands, large, deep bays and several major rivers, some of which traverse the Labrador wilderness to their headlands near the Quebec border.

The town has a rich combination of Inuit and Settlers traditions; the Inuit people, who with their ancestors have occupied the region for thousands of years, have a cultural heritage intertwined with the land and sea.

Other aboriginal cultural resources in the Makkovik region include archaeological sites of national significance (yet to be designated).

Immediately east of Makkovik Harbour, Ford's Bight (Nisbet Harbour) is the site of the first Moravian landing in Labrador. An archaeological dig was undertaken in 2001 at the site of the house built in the summer of 1752 by the team headed by John Christian Erhardt. This therefore is an important part of the Moravian Story in Labrador. The Nisbet Harbour story can be told with panels in the White Elephant Museum and interpretive plaques at the archaeological dig site, to be accessed by water and a future hiking trail. The Makkovik White Elephant Museum is recognized as a registered heritage structure under the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador and information on the building can be obtained by clicking on the following website:

http://www.heritage.nf.ca/society/rhs/lq_listing/188.html

There is also an excert on the Nisbet Harbour site written by Dr. Hans Rollman of Memorial University's Religous Studies Department and can be obtained by clicking on the following website:

http://www.mun.ca/rels/makkovik/nisbet.htm

Dr. Rollman is a renowned expert on Moravian history.

The Town has a very good Craft Centre; local crafters concentrate mainly on items of clothing - mitts, coats, slippers, etc.

Makkovik is proud to have two recording artists, Gerald Mitchell and Gary Mitchell. Gerald Mitchell was formerly known as the Labrador Balladeer. Besides singing and playing guitar, he is talented at drawing and painting. Gary Mitchell has a cassette featuring folk songs of the area. His daughter, Jennifer, is very talented playing the accordion. They are regularly invited to perform at community events such as the Makkovik Jamboree and the Makkovik Trout Festival. Inga Andersen, born in 1914, has been a church organist for many years in the past and still plays at occasional services. Joas and Susie Onalik are musicians who have traveled to many folk festivals to sing Inuktitut songs. Joas plays guitar.

This year is the 21st Annual Makkovik Trout Festival. The festival originated as a part of the Canada Day Celebrations in 1988. It's getting more popular each year and now runs every August on it's own. One of the main events is the Trout Supper. Which is trout served in a variety of ways such as smoked, fried, stewed, and fish & brews. There is also food such as chicken, caribou, and a variety of salads, and beverages served at the supper as well.

Last year there was a soccer tournament and this year there is a beach volleyball tournament as well. The Trout Festival is an opportune time for visitors to experience the outdoor life and scenic beauty of Makkovik. Bring your loved one along and have a romatic night of watching fireworks and listening to music. Other activities include rowing races, local talent, pageant, beauty contest, children games, teen dance and also an adult dance, plus much more.

We would like to thank all those who came to Makkovik last summer and we hope you will come again this year. We hope after you read what we have to offer you will come join us this summer and we guarentee that you will want to come back next year!

For more information on the Makkovik Trout Festival contact the Recreation Director at (709) 923-2123.

If you want an evening of fun and entertainment the Makkovik Jamboree is an event for you. The annual event usually runs during the end of March each year and has become a good way to promote talent as well as a source of socializing in a healthy atmosphere.

For more information on the Makkovik Jamboree contact Linda Pottle at 923-2340.

The landscape is characterized by rising terrain from Makkovik harbour to a ridge between elevation 20 metres and 30 metres above sea level. In the southern part of the community, bedrock is at or near the surface with numerous rock outcrops, boggy areas, and sparse scrub. Rock outcrops have made the provision of services expensive and subsequently development is limited.

The community’s central area, with more soil and flatter terrain, is better suited to habitation than are the extremities. It contains the core of the residential and service buildings from the shoreline well back to the side of the ridge. The northern part of the community is composed of housing built in a single row along the shoreline. Behind this area is the Moravian Woods, an undeveloped coniferous stand that has been maintained as a valued natural heritage feature of the community.

Snowmobiles is an important means of travel during the long winter since snow covers the ground from December until the end of May. Roads in town are not cleared and Council maintains 80 kilometres of trail to Burnt Lake and shares maintenance of the Burnt Lake to Mulligan portion with Postville, which is the main vehicular connection with Goose Bay is in winter.

The Makkovik airstrip has scheduled service from Labrador Air and Provincial Innu/Mikun. The average cost of a return trip from Makkovik to Goose Bay is $525.00.

During the summer months, the community is serviced by a freight boat (the Astron 2006) and one designed to provide passenger service along with some small freight (Northern Ranger).

Makkovik is also host to the only available marine centre on the North Coast operated by Torngat Fish Producers.

Communication needs are serviced by:

- CIML Radio, run by the OK Society and owned by the CBC (Inuktitut and English),
- Satellite television service from Personna Communications, including programs produced by the Okalakatigat Society on the APTN network,
- Regional newspapers from Goose Bay in addition to a quarterly magazine produced by the Okalakatigat Society in Nain, and
- Telephone and high speed internet service from Aliant Telephone.

Throughout its history, the economy of Makkovik has continued to be based on the traditional pursuits of hunting, trapping and fishing. In 1972, the Makkovik fish plant at Trap Point began processing salmon, cod and turbot from the extended region and this became the chief source of employment.

Current Employment:

Residents are currently engaged in a wide spectrum of permanent (full and part-time) jobs in various public services and commercial operations. This includes the Makkovik Inuit Community Government (15 employed), the Nunatsiavut Government Department of Health and Social Development (9) and John Christian Erhardt Memorial School (14). The largest seasonal employer is Torngat Fish Producers Co-operative. Since construction of the crab plant in 1999, the operation on Trap Point has employed around 75 residents and 30 from outside Makkovik, although operations were scaled down somewhat for the 2006 season due to less fish being available.

The plant at Trap Point has been a leader in developing the processing industry; at a general level however, Torngat Fisheries is actively engaged in building opportunities for north coast communities in several sectors, including scallops, snow crab, shrimp, whelks and seals.

Makkovik has not seen an operating mine although there has been long standing interest in the area, including a “gold rush” in 1923, brought on by a rumour and a proposed uranium mine at Michelin/Kitt’s Pond in the 1980s. Recently, there has been some publicity suggesting that the proposal may be in the process of being re-activated. Ongoing exploration in the area employ approximately 6 people from the community (42 from the North Coast in total). The leading exploration company, Aurora Energy, will continue their uranium drilling field work to a greater extent through 2007, and estimates put the yield at 96 million pounds of valuable substances. Aurora is planning to complete 25% of its drilling program at Michelin and Jacques Lake (located in the Postville and Makkovik area), including another 50% at other promising sites in the region.

There will continue to be opportunities for Makkovik residents to work at the Voisey Bay mine under the adjacency principle, in addition to the few already working there. The mine is currently employs approximately 400 people, rising to 800 with the commencement of underground mining in 2014.

In addition, people are self-employed in a variety of pursuits, including fishing, crafts and contracting, or working for other local enterprises such as the Adlavik Hotel and Skipper Gil’s.

The local hotel Adlavik Inn (Canada Select 2.5 stars) has five double occupancy rooms with a full bathroom, cable T.V., laundry service, a dining room and lounge with a 23 seat capacity. The inn is rapidly earning a name for it's "great food". The owners also operate a boarding house with five single rooms and a 30 foot boat and have been offering tours for a couple of years to the archaeological site at Ford’s Bight (Nisbet Harbour) as well as fishing, sight seeing, etc to the general area. This vessel is fully licensed and equipped with all electronics and safety equipment required under Coast Guard Regulations. The M.V. Jason's Pride comes complete with head, stove, and comfortable seating (capacity 6 persons plus 2 crew). Along with The Jason's Pride, they also have the Lori Ann, an 18 ft speedboat which serves as a lifeboat and gets you closer to the shorelines. This offers close ups to the many types of scenery and wildlife we have in Northern Labrador.

There are also various Bed & Breakfast's in operation.

Primary facilities are the gymnasium at J.C. Erhardt Memorial School and the Makkovik Community Hall. The school is located at the end of Andersen Street and Laura's Lane. It was built in the early 1990's and is an attractive, modern building.

The gymnasium is very well-used with a schedule of activities for all community members and age groups from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m., 7 days a week. Activities include volley ball, badminton, floor hockey, soccer, circuit training, and various games. Each activity last about an hour and fees are charged at .50 cents per game up to 14 years and $1 per game for older users. At other times the gymnasium is used for school activities, practices, tournaments, and festivals such as the Makkovik Trout Festival.

The Community Hall is located close to the dock, just half a kilometer north of the fish plant, and next door to Aliant Telecom Building. It is roughly 30 years old and well used for dances, weddings, cultural events, and similar community gatherings. It is also used for meetings, band practices, dart leaque, court, and youth activities such as table tennis.

As in every community, there is a huge interest in sports. With the increase ability comes the desire to compete with a wider group of athletes. Availing of the many opportunties that exist today, Makkovik has been successful in sending participants to various competitions and training camps in the province and other parts of Canada. Four athletes took part in the Newfoundland and Labrador Winter Games in 2002. We have provincial gold medal winners in badminton and table tennis at the Labrador Winter Games. One girl has been the recipient of the Tom Longboat award for aboriginal sports and has been invited to attend the North American Indigenous Games.

Labrador-Grenfel Health has a nursing clinic staffed by two nurses, with a doctor and dentist who visits the community on a montly basis. The Clinic is located about 1.3 kilometers from the dock, next to the White Elephant Museum and is the only means of pharmicutical services available in the community other than over the counter drugs that can be purchased at local stores. The Department of Health and Social Development for the Nunatsiavut Government employes a public health nurse in Makkovik and The Deparment of Child, Youth, and Family Services for the Provincial Government has two full time social workers stationed at the Makkovik Clinic.

Makkovik is very much a Moravian community ever since the Moravian Missionaries first arrived. Moravian Missions in Labrador sprang out of the missions in Greenland and in 1752 they sent their first missionaries to Labrador, first arriving in Nisbet Harbour (an harbour east of Makkovik).

The community has one church located about 1.4 kilometer from the dock which can sit approximately 300 people.

Makkovik detachment has two regular RCMP members and one Community Constable. The Community of Makkovik is very pro-police, and have very low crime rates. The RCMP actively participates in all community events including Canada Day and other local functions to foster better community-based policing. Makkovik detachment is also responsible for the policing of the town of Postville, which is located approximately 70 Km northwest of Makkovik. Postville has a population of approximately 260 people.