Route

Pangnirtung Panniqtuuq ᐸᓐᓂᖅᑑᖅ

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Image courtesy of http://en.wikipedia.org

March 2

June 5

Population: 1325

Generational Status (over 15 years of age)
  830  3rd Generation
    10  2nd Generation
    10  1st Generation

Inuit-Identified Population: 1240

Mother-Tongue
     70  English
     10  French
       0  English/French
 1250  Other

Total Private Dwellings: 433

Population Density: 175.8 per km²

More statistics about Pangnirtung & its residents

Learn to pronounce Panniqtuuq

Pannirtuuq "The place of Bull Caribou". Legend says a hunter names Atagooyuk gave the place its name well over 100 years ago when caribou had not yet changed their patterns as a result of the incursions of man.

Settled at the bottom of a mountain, at the mouth of a river and surrounded by spectacular fiords, Pangnirtung is located on Baffin Island, in Cumberland Sound. Known to outdoor enthusiasts as the gateway to the famous Auyuittuq National Park, there are many attractions for visitors to this community. Pangnirtung is famed for its art and one of the great attractions is the Uqqurmiut Inuit Arts Centre. The Artist Association of the Centre welcomes visitors to see to the print and weave shops, which create beautiful woven tapestries and prints. The acclaimed "Pang" hats, colourfully-patterned crocheted toques made by local craftspeople, can also be purchased at the Centre's gift shop. Pangnirtung Fisheries contributes to the community's economy through the harvesting and processing of arctic char and Baffin turbot (Greenland halibut). Employees at the newly-modernized processing plant prepare the daily catch of fish for shipment to international locations.

History:
Pangnirtung has a long history of Whaling in Cumberland Sound where commercial whaling started in 1820. In 1838 a Scottish whaler named William Penny along with an Inuk traveling guide rediscovered Cumberland Sound. As the sound was rich in Bowhead whales, Inuit way of life began to change when whaling was starting. By the late 1850's, many Inuit left thier camps to work at the whaling stations in Nuvuyen (located on the southern coast) and to Kekrten Island (located on the northern coast).

Then in the mid 1860's, Cumberland Sound was showing sign's of being "fished out". By 1870 Nuvuyen was in ruins and hardly any more ships came to hunt whales and the Inuit returned to life in camps scattered throughout the sound.

In 1921 the Hudson Bay Company built a trading post in Pangnirtung which then began attracting the Inuit. Two years later the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) detachment was built. In 1929, St. Luke's Mission Hospital was established. Although by this time, there were more than few Inuit living in Pangnirtung, it was in 1962 that most of the Inuit in Cumberland Sound moved to Pangnirtung when a distemper epidemic killed most of their dogs. That same year the Federal Government established an administrative office and sent its first teacher to Pangnirtung.

On April 1, 1973, Pangnirtung was incorporated as a Hamlet. The mayor and councillors are elected by the community who look after the administration of the community which includes providing municipal services. There are various sub committees under the Hamlet Council such as a Health committee, Safety Issues committee and Youth committee.

Its Land and Wildlife
The beauty of Pangnirtung is largely born of its backdrop, the loft mountains of Cumberland Peninsula, where some peaks reach 2,200 metres. The peninsula is bisected by both Akshayuk and Kingnait passes, providing an overland route from Cumberland Sound to Davis Strait. The central part of the peninsula is dominated by the massive Penny Ice Cap, from which many glaciers flow to the sea. Most of the better-known peaks in Cumberland Peninsula were named during a 1953 expedition of the Arctic Institute of North America.

Marine life has been important in the history of Cumberland Sound. Large numbers of beluga whales may be seen at their calving grounds in Millet Bay near the head of the sound; they sometimes wander into Pangnirtung Fiord. Walruses can be seen in the sound; occasionally, so can bowhead whales. Polar bears, which frequent the sea ice near the mouth of the sound, are rarely spotted close to Pangnirtung. Ringed seals are found throughout the sound and the fiord.

Caribou are typically found a considerable distance from Pangnirtung, in the hills past the head of Clearwater Fiord or inland from the south coast of Cumberland Sound, toward Nettilling Lake.

The Pangnirtung area has always been well known for its arctic char fishing. One camp currently operates at Kingnait Fiord. This is a hard business and the season is short, so many camps do not survive.

For information about the community and surrounding attractions visit the Nunavut Handbook website

Source courtesy of:
http://www.gov.nu.ca, http://www.qia.ca/i18n/english/, htto://www.arctictravel.com/, http://www12.statcan.ca