The January moon is called Avunniviaryuk and during this month the dwarf seals produce their little ones

The February moon is called Avunnivik. This is when the true seals bring their young and they develop and become the seals we hunt. 

March is Amaulikkirvik. This is when the little snowbirds arrive from the south. These are snow buntings “amauligaaluk”.

The April moon is Qiblalirvik because the sun has melted the top of the snow, and as we stare at it, it sparkles with whiteness. “qibliqtuaq” means is shiny.

May is Tingmiyirvik, duck and geese return from the south. “Tingmiyuaq’ means “waterfowl in flight”.

June is called Nuiqturvik, in our kayaks we go after muskrats, swimming in the river and lakes-we hurl harpoons. The word refers to harpooning or spearing.

The July moon we give the name Padliqsiqsivik, because everything dries up this month, even the earth. Padliqsiqsivik means ground drying up.

August is Qugyuat Tingiviat, this is when the young swans take their flight. Qugyuaq means whistling swan and tingmiyuaq means flies.

In September the Inuit of the Arctic ocean leave their kayaks to harpoon seals, using a special harpoon (the aklikat) Therefore, the moon is called Aklikarniarvik.

In the month of October, one of the first signs of cold is the forming thin ice on the sandy shores of the ocean. This ice is called tuglu and the moon Tugluvik.

In November, it is cold and when we open the door, white mist fills the igloo; this is the mist of the freezing days. That is why the moon is called Itartoryuk. Today the word Siqinrirvik “no more sun” is used for November.

We call the December moon Katitdjvik because during this month of darkness. Inuit assemble, forget their worries, rejoice, dance, perform with poems. “polar night festival”