Igluligaarjuk is the Inuktitut word for "place with few houses", it is the oldest community in Nunavut.

The community is served by air, Chesterfield Inlet Airport, and by an annual supply known as sealift.

Inuit from the Chesterfield Inlet region are called Qaernermiut, though previously, they were referred to as Kenepitic, Kenepetu or Kenepitu.

Qiniq is a fixed wireless service to homes and businesses, connecting to the outside world via a satellite backbone.

Chesterfield Inlet has a subarctic climate (Dfc) with short but cool summers and long cold winters.