Pangnirtung

Pangnirtung (or Pang, also , in syllabics: ) is an Inuit hamlet in the Qikiqtaaluk Region of the Canadian territory of Nunavut, located on Baffin Island. The community is located about south of the Arctic Circle, and about from the North Pole. Pangnirtung is situated on a coastal plain at the coast of Pangnirtung Fjord, a fjord which eventually merges with Cumberland Sound. the mayor is Stevie Komoartok.

Name There is some confusion about the village name. Residents say the real name is Pangniqtuuq, which means "the place of many bull caribou".Qikiqtani Inuit Association - Pangnirtung Profile Early in 2005 residents voted against officially changing the name of the village to the native one, as Pangnirtung has achieved an international reputation. Its residents have created high-quality traditional arts in sculpture, as well as adaptation of themes and design in printmaking and weaving.

Pangnirtung is nicknamed the Switzerland of the Arctic, or simply Pang.

History The Inuit and their ancestors, Paleo-Eskimo, have inhabited the area for thousands of years, perhaps up to 4000 years. Their cultures became well-adapted to the harsh climate and environment.

In 1921, the Hudson's Bay Company established a trading post in Pangnirtung. Two years later, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police erected a permanent office. The first government-appointed teacher arrived in 1956. The first administrative office was established in 1962.

Since then, numerous Inuit have achieved success with marketing their traditional arts. They transformed traditional drawing skills to produce lithographs and other forms of prints, allowing reproduction and wider distribution of their work. Other artists have made sculptures and carvings in local stone. Since the government established a weaving studio in 1970, many Inuit have learned to weave and are producing tapestries and other works that find an international market.Cross, L. D. 2003. "Woven, Not Carved: The Pangnirtung Tapestries Are Northern Art with Global Appeal", Arctic. 56: 310-314

Demographics

In the 2021 Canadian census conducted by Statistics Canada, Pangnirtung had a population of 1,504 living in 396 of its 456 total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of 1,481. With a land area of , it had a population density of in 2021.

+ Panethnic groups in Pangnirtung (2001−2021)Panethnic group2021201620062001 Indigenous 1,415 1,395 1,240 1,210 European 85 70 65 65 African 0 10 0 0 Middle Eastern 0 10 0 0 East Asian 0 0 20 0 South Asian 0 0 10 0 Southeast Asian 0 0 0 0 Latin American 0 0 0 0 Other/multiracial 0 0 0 0 Total responses 1,500 1,480 1,325 1,280 Total population 1,504 1,481 1,325 1,276

Geography and climate Pangnirtung has a tundra climate (Köppen: ET; Trewartha: Ftkd) with very short, cool summers and long, cold winters lasting almost the entire year.

Economic development The community operates a turbot fishery. In 2008, the federal government budgeted for the construction of a harbour. Pangnirtung Fisheries Limited operates a packing plant to process local turbot catches.Pang fish plant languishes with anglers in short supply Founded in 1992 during peak summer operations the company has over 40 employees during peak season.Thieves steal thousands of dollars from Pangnirtung fish plant

Auyuittuq Lodge is the hamlet's only hotel, which comprises 25 rooms, shared facilities, a dining room, and a lounge.

Local services Power is supplied to Pangnirtung via standalone diesel generators operated by Qulliq Energy.

Fuel is imported via tanker and stored in a tank farm near the Pangnirtung Airport. The purchase of diesel fuel is the responsibility of the government of Nunavut.

Water, sewage, and garbage services are provided by the municipality of Pangnirtung. Water trucks fill up at a reservoir adjacent to the hamlet and deliver seven days a week. Sewage is pumped out and treated at the municipal treatment plant. Garbage is picked up five days a week and transported to a landfill that slowly deteriorates due to Arctic temperatures.

For emergency services, it is protected by the 14-member Pangnirtung Fire Department.'They will always be welcome at our fire house' The fire service uses one pumper with one older reserve from one station. Policing is provided by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Pangnirtung DetachmentPangnirtung detachment Nunavut attached to V Division.Nunavut divisional headquarters

Mini C, The North West Company (Northern Store), Pangnirtung Inuit Co-op and Co-op Express are the only local retailers and grocery options.Northern Stores LocatorGroceries KFC Express, Pizza Hut and Co-op Express are the only fast food restaurants in the hamlet. Perishable goods are shipped by air and all other items by sealift when waters are ice-free.

Banking is done through the Co-op or money orders.Banks

Gasoline for cars or snowmobiles is available at the Quickstop or the Co-op.

Education There are two schools in Pangnirtung:Schools Alookie Elementary School - kindergarten to Grade 5 Attagoyuk Ilisavik High School - Grades 6 to 12

Post secondary-studies opportunities can be made through Nunavut Arctic College's Community Learning Centre.

Recreation Aksayuk Arena is a sports and recreational centre.

Transportation Like all Nunavut communities, Pangnirtung is a fly-in community with no road access to the rest of Nunavut. Pangnirtung Airport provides the only viable means of access. There are gravel roads in the community, and residents use SUVs, pickup trucks, 4-wheel ATVs and snowmobiles.

Places of worship Two churches can be found in Pangnirtung:Churches St. Luke's Anglican ChurchArctic Anglicans seek fresh new recruits in England Full Gospel (Pentecostal) Church

Health Basic medical services are available at the Health Centre. Four beds are available for assessment only, with advance care via medevac to Iqaluit.Much-delayed health centre opens in Pangnirtung

Near Pangnirtung Pangnirtung is the nearest town (1 hour by boat) to Auyuittuq National Park and the location of one of two park offices, the other is in Qikiqtarjuaq. Located near the Parks Canada office is the Angmarlik Visitor Centre.Auyuittuq National ParkAngmarlik Visitor Centre Iglunga, now uninhabited, is an Inuit hamlet, just south of Iglunga Island, is about to the west.

Small craft harbour In 2009, the then Canadian prime minister, Stephen Harper, proposed building a new modern harbour in Pangnirtung to support the region's turbot-fishing industry. Harper received a warm welcome with many residents gathered at the airport to greet him. The town's 1,500 residents listened as Harper announced that $17 million worth of harbour construction promised in the last two budgets would get underway in the fall of that year. Harper said the greatest potential for the hamlet's future lies in the inshore turbot fishery. The shortfalls of the previous harbour were a big problem for fishermen: When the tide ebbed, the harbour turned to mud.

The work on the harbour was completed in September 2013. The entire project ended up costing about $40.5 million. The improvements to the harbour include a fixed wharf, breakwater, marshalling area, sea lift ramp and a dredged channel and basin. The improvements will allow residents to unload their catches faster by allowing smaller crafts to dock easily and safely.

Broadband communications The community has been served by the Qiniq network since 2005. Qiniq is a fixed wireless service to homes and businesses, connecting to the outside world via a satellite backbone. The Qiniq network is designed and operated by SSI Micro. In 2017, the network was upgraded to 4G LTE technology and 2G-GSM for mobile voice.

In popular culture The 2022 Canadian Inuit science fiction film Slash/Back was filmed in Pangnirtung. It was directed by Nyla Innuksuk in her feature debut, and starred largely local actors recruited for the film.

Notable residents

Elisapee Ishulutaq Simeonie Keenainak Ipeelee Kilabuk Peter Kilabuk, Nunavut's first Minister of Education Nakasuk Paul Okalik, Nunavut's first premier Stephen Osborne Andrew Qappik Riit Aasiva

Image gallery

See also List of municipalities in Nunavut

Notes

References

Pangnirtung

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