Okak, Newfoundland and Labrador
Encyclopedia
Okak is a former community located at 57°26′N 62°25′W on Okak Bay in northern Labrador
. It was founded in 1776 by Jens Haven
, a missionary of the Moravian Church.
In 1771 King George III of England gave a land grant to the Moravian Church to establish missions for the local Inuit
in northern Labrador. In the 18th century, Jens Haven and his followers built missions at Nain
(1771), Okak (1776) and Hopedale
(1782). These missions also served as trading posts. Later on, other Moravian settlements were established at
Hebron
(1830), Zoar (1865), Ramah
(1871), Makkovik
(1896) and Killinek (1904).
Money and personnel to run the infrastructure was provided by the Unity Mission Board in Saxony
and the Niesky
Mission Training School. However, this assistance was hampered by the effects of World War I and the devastation of the German economy. In 1918, an outbreak of Spanish influenza struck Okak, killing 161 out of a population of 220.
Shortly thereafter, the Moravians sold their trading post at Okak to the Hudson's Bay Company
. In 1956 the settlement was abandoned when the remaining inhabitants were compelled by the Canadian government to relocate to other communities in Labrador. Today, all that remains of Okak are a graveyard and ruins of the former mission.
Labrador
Labrador is the distinct, northerly region of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It comprises the mainland portion of the province, separated from the island of Newfoundland by the Strait of Belle Isle...
. It was founded in 1776 by Jens Haven
Jens Haven
Jens Haven was a Moravian missionary and the prime mover behind the founding of the Moravian missions in Labrador....
, a missionary of the Moravian Church.
In 1771 King George III of England gave a land grant to the Moravian Church to establish missions for the local Inuit
Inuit
The Inuit are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Canada , Denmark , Russia and the United States . Inuit means “the people” in the Inuktitut language...
in northern Labrador. In the 18th century, Jens Haven and his followers built missions at Nain
Nain, Newfoundland and Labrador
Nain or Naina is the northernmost town of any size in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, located about 370 kilometres by air from Happy Valley-Goose Bay. The town was established as a Moravian mission in 1771 by Jens Haven and other missionaries...
(1771), Okak (1776) and Hopedale
Hopedale, Newfoundland and Labrador
Hopedale is a town located in the North of Labrador, the mainland portion of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Hopedale is the legislative capital of the Inuit Land Claims Area Nunatsiavut, and where the Nunatsiavut Assembly meets...
(1782). These missions also served as trading posts. Later on, other Moravian settlements were established at
Hebron
Hebron, Newfoundland and Labrador
Hebron is the name of a former Moravian mission that was the northernmost settlement in Labrador. Founded in 1831, the mission disbanded in 1959. Abraham Ulrikab and his family were from Hebron and they were exhibited in zoos in Europe in 1880....
(1830), Zoar (1865), Ramah
Ramah, Newfoundland and Labrador
Ramah was a small mission run by the Moravian Church in northern Labrador from 1871 until 1908. It was located on Ramah Bay at 58° 52' NLat; 063° 15' WLong....
(1871), Makkovik
Makkovik, Newfoundland and Labrador
Makkovik is a town in Labrador in northern Canada. It had a population of 384 persons in 2001. The main industry is fishing and there is a fishing cooperative....
(1896) and Killinek (1904).
Money and personnel to run the infrastructure was provided by the Unity Mission Board in Saxony
Saxony
The Free State of Saxony is a landlocked state of Germany, contingent with Brandenburg, Saxony Anhalt, Thuringia, Bavaria, the Czech Republic and Poland. It is the tenth-largest German state in area, with of Germany's sixteen states....
and the Niesky
Niesky
Niesky is a small town in Upper Lusatia in eastern the Free State of Saxony, Germany. It has a population of about 11,000 and is part of the district of Görlitz....
Mission Training School. However, this assistance was hampered by the effects of World War I and the devastation of the German economy. In 1918, an outbreak of Spanish influenza struck Okak, killing 161 out of a population of 220.
Shortly thereafter, the Moravians sold their trading post at Okak to the Hudson's Bay Company
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
. In 1956 the settlement was abandoned when the remaining inhabitants were compelled by the Canadian government to relocate to other communities in Labrador. Today, all that remains of Okak are a graveyard and ruins of the former mission.