Route

Pond Inlet Mittimatalik ᒥᑦᑎᒪᑕᓕᒃ

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

March 2

June 5

Population: 1315

Generational Status (over 15 years of age)
  805  3rd Generation
    20  2nd Generation
    15  1st Generation

Inuit-Identified Population: 1215

Mother-Tongue
   100  English
     10  French
       0  English/French
 1215  Other

Total Private Dwellings: 335

Population Density: 7.6 per km²

More statistics about Pond Inlet & its residents

Learn to pronounce Mittimatalik 

Pond Inlet is located on the northeastern shore of Baffin Island, across from Bylot Island. It is known to the Inuit as Mittimatalik, "the place where Mittima is buried". Although the name remains, the identity of Mittima is a mystery to the present-day people of Pond Inlet. Pond Inlet is one of Nunavut's treasure troves. The gorgeous scenery is a mix of mountains, glaciers, and icebergs that attract many tourists from all over the world. As part of the Government of Nunavut's decentralization strategy to create jobs throughout Nunavut, Pond Inlet is now a Qikiqtani regional centre for the Departments of Sustainable Development and Public Works. The community looks to the growth sectors of government, tourism and businesses involving arts and crafts and wildlife harvesting for future economic development.

History:
Explorer John Ross gave the body of water between Bylot Island and Baddin Island its English name in 1818 when he dubbed it "Pond's Bay" after a British astronomer. Whalers had arrived a year earlier, in search of the valuable bowhead whale. It would be almost 100 years before the area's first shore whaling station was established in 1930, but by then the industry had all but collapsed. By 1912 only one whaling ship attempted a bowhead hunt in the area, with no success. A nearby national historic site commemorates the whaling industry in the eastern Arctic.

In the mid-1800s, a shaman (angakkuq) and powerful leader, Qillaq, led some 60 Inuit on a migration from Tununiq to Greenland, Qillaq was apparently fleeing from Inuit who were enemies of his family. The migration by Qutdlarssuaq (Qillaq's Greenlandic name) had a profound effect on the lives of both the Tununirmiut and the Polar Inuit, who had been isolated in northern Greenland for more than 100 years. The newcomers re-introduced important Iniut technology such as the kayak, bow and arrow, and kakivak (fish-spear) to their Greenlandic bretheren. To this day the Polar Inuit and Tununirmiut are closely related.

In 1912, three expeditions arrived in Pont Inlet looking for gold. Although none was found, the expeditions opened small trading posts, and Pont Inlet became a trading centre. The Hudson's Bay Co. arrived in 1921, when they bought out the Arctic Gold Exploration Syndicate.

Pond Inlet became the site of arctic intrigue in 1920, when Robert Janes, and independent trader from the Point Inlet area, was murdered en route to Igloolik. Inuit apparently greatly distrusted Janes and decided his activities could no longer be tolerated. News of the killing traveled out of the North and the RCMP arrived in 1921 to investigate. In 1923, three Inuit were tried on a ship near Pond Inlet; two were convicted, and one was taken to a penitentiary in southern Canada.

The Anglican and Catholic missions were both constructed in 1922, and both served to partially divide some Inuit for years. Elders still recall being told not to visit the other mission, despite their curiosity. The original Roman Catholic mission was recently renovated after a tragic 1994 fire destroyed the previous chapel. The fire took the life of Father Guy Mary-Rousseliere, a priest and world-renowned archeologist who had lived in Pond Inlet for 37 years.

A federal school was built in the 1960s, along with residences for some children whose parents lived on the land. Eventually, most Inuit moved into town as the government provided more housing. Today, four families continue to live on the land in what are called "outpost camps."

Its Land and Wildlife
The Pond Inlet-Bylot Island area offers many opportunities for viewing wildlife (although of course, animals and birds do not always arrive "on demand"). Some of the animals that you may see are caribou, arctic hare, wolves, arctic fox and lemmings. Marine mammals include ringed, harp, and bearded seals, belugas, narwhals, the magnificent bowhead and the killer whale. Fishing in the area is mainly for arctic char and land lock char.

Many birds can be seen during the summertime. Sightings are common for gulls, fulmars, kittiwakes, murres, red-throated loons, sandpipers, jaegers, ravens, and snow buntings.

Common Flowers to be seen during the summer are: saxfrage, arctic heather, cinquefoils, chickweed, fireweed, louseworts, arctic poppies, arctic cotton, and even dandelions!

For more information about Pond Inlet, and its 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