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Introduction

History

Introduction
Along the northwest shore of Dorset Island on the southwest tip of Baffin Island,surrounded on one side by rocky hills and by Hudson Strait on the other, lies Cape Dorset — a community that, since the 1950s, has come to be known as the Inuit art capital of the world. Cape Dorset is a community of approximately 1600 people, the majority of which are Inuit. Inuktitut is the first language of the majority of the people in Cape Dorset.
Like most other settlements in Nunavut, Cape Dorset is a modern community, with winding gravel roads, small wooden houses, schools, stores, hotels, a nursing station, government offices and churches. But it is Cape Dorset's outstanding artists and their printmaking and stone-carving shop that have earned the town recognition. Each year, art lovers flock to Cape Dorset to enjoy the treasures of the West Baffin Eskimo Cooperative and to chat with the acclaimed artists who work here.

History
It was at Cape Dorset that the remains of an ancient Inuit people, who flourished between 1000 BC and 1100 AD, were first found. They were called the “Dorset Culture” after Cape Dorset. The Baffin Inuit of Cape Dorset, descendents of later Thule culture people, know them in legends as the tuniit.
The Cape itself was named by captain Luke Foxe on September 24, 1631, after Edward Sackville, Earl of Dorset. Sackville, a Lord of the Admiralty, was one of Foxe’s sponsors in his unsuccessful attempt to find the Northwest Passage. The “Cape” on Dorset Island is actually a 243 m high mountain, part of the Kingnait Range. “Kingnait” means “high mountains” in Inuktitut and is hence the Inuit name for the community. Cape Dorset is noted among ornithologists as an entry point to the nesting ground of the Blue Goose. It was from Cape Dorset, in 1929, that the naturalist Dr. Dewey Soper (Kaimiati) set out to discover their nest near Foxe Basin. The Bird sanctuary to the northeast of Cape Dorset is now called the Dewey Soper Bird Sanctuary.
The Hudson’s Bay Company established a trading post in 1913. A Roman Catholic mission established in 1938, but closed in 1960 as the majority of the residents are of the Anglican faith. In 1947, the well-known Arctic supply ship RMS Nascopie struck an uncharted reef at the harbor’s entrance and sank. The ship and its cargo were lost, but the passengers and crew were saved; Cape Dorset residents in memory of the disaster built the cairn. The cairn is located by the RCMP office. In 1949, the market for white fox collapsed. The poor economic situation put people through hard ship and many had to go back to the old way of supporting their family.
People in Cape Dorset area didn’t have any sickness like spinal meningitis, influenza and typhoid until late ‘40’s and the 1950’s. A federal nursing station was established at Cape Dorset in the 50’s to help avert such epidemics.
In 1953, the local Inuit of Cape Dorset built the Anglican Church on their own initiative. The material and shipping cost was pick-up by Dioceses of the Arctic. In the same year Settlement Administrator (Artist) James Houston arrived in the community. Mr. Houston and his wife were to spend ten years at Cape Dorset; with the help of local people they started to recruited gifted artists, encouraging carving and handicraft production and introducing printmaking. The west Baffin Eskimo Co-operative was formed in 1959, and in that year the first major exhibition of Cape Dorset Inuit sculpture was held at the Stratford Festival. It was a success, and carving and graphic art have become an economic mainstay of the community.

The Shore at Cape Dorset

Community of Cape Dorset

Cape Dorset (another view)

...and another

Weather

Wildlife

Weather
When you first arrive at the end of August the daylight hours are fairly long. Normally the weather is good during the fall and temperatures are usually around 5°C. If you enjoy walking, the evenings are great times do so. During the fall it is usually sunny but at times it can be very foggy. Heavy rains can also accompany the heavy fog. By the end of September, you will normally see at least one snowfall, but the snow usually does not accumulate. As the fall continues, the daylight decreases and the temperatures begin to fall. By the middle of November, you can expect falling snow to begin to accumulate. You will also notice a difference in the amount of daylight each week. Once December arrives, daylight is limited. During this month, daylight hours are from 9am to 3pm. After Christmas break, you will begin to see the increase in the amount of daylight and also a continuing decrease in the temperatures; the coldest months are January, February, and March, where the temperature can drop well into the –35° to –40°C range. During the winter months, the air in your apartment can become very dry, so you may wish to bring a humidifier with you. The winter months usually bring cold but sunny weather.
During the month of April, daylight hours continue to increase along with the temperatures. If you plan on spending time outside during the next few months you may need sunscreen to prevent sunburn on your face. The last two months of the school year normally have good weather. By this time it is daylight close to 24 hours, the temperatures start to rise, and the snow begins to melt. The biggest complaint that people have during the spring and summer is that people find it hard to sleep at night because it is light outside. The easiest way to deal with this is to place something over your bedroom window (a black garbage bag or aluminum foil) to help keep your room dark. Most people enjoy the daylight because they can go home after work and relax for a few hours and still go out for a walk at 9pm when the sun is still up.

Cape Dorset in Winter

Traveling on the "nuna"

Transportation

Housing

Transportation
There are two airlines that fly into Cape Dorset, First Air (Monday to Friday) and Kenn Borek (Sunday- Friday).
When booking an airline ticket you can either use a travel agent, First Air, or Air Canada. Generally, you can leave Cape Dorset and arrive in Ottawa on the same day. If you are going farther than Ottawa you will most likely to have to overnight there and continue on the next day. Airfares to and from Cape Dorset are very expensive. All flights to and from Cape Dorset stop in Iqaluit. First Air is an Air Canada partner.

Housing
There are government houses that can be rented for $1200 to $1400 per month. The rent depends on the size of the house. Each government house includes basic furnishings (tables, beds, chairs, sofa), as well as window coverings, washer, dryer, fridge, and stove. These units do not include small kitchen and entertainment appliances. Heating oil for the furnace is included in the price of rent, but utilities such as telephone, power, water and sewage, and garbage removal are not. These utilities cost a total of approximately $150 per month.
After arrival, you should contact the local hamlet office (located directly behind the high school) and sign up for water and sewage delivery. Most people have delivery at least four times a week. If you run out of water there is a phone number you can call before 4pm and they will deliver water to you. The hamlet sends out a monthly bill and you can pay the bill at their office.

First Air lands in Cape Dorset

View of the Community

Schools

Schools
There are two schools in Cape Dorset: Sam Pudlat School (kindergarten to grade 7) and Peter Pitseolak School (grades 8 to 12). The enrollment at Peter Pitseolak School is approximately 160 students. Students do not begin to learn in English until grade five. Prior to grade five, the students learn in their first language, Inuktitut. Peter Pitseolak School has adequate resources. There is a computer room with approximately 16 computers with Internet access. There is a library, home economics and shop room. The school is fortunate to have cross country skis, boots, and poles to outfit 30 students or more. Also, the school does have a supply of skates for students for when they go to the arena for skating. The gym has tumbling mats, a trampoline, and an assortment of regular gym supplies.

Students outside school

Food

Communications

Postal Service

Power

Medical

Police

Churches

Recreation

Food
The community has two main stores: the Northern and the West Baffin Co-op. Both stores provide foodstuffs as well as general merchandise, skidoos, etc. the post office is located in the Northern Store (most staff have their mail sent to the school mailbox, which is checked Monday through Friday) while telephone and electricity billing is taken care of a the Co-op store.
Here are a few samples:
Loaf of bread: $2.59
2L of milk: $6.29
1lb ground beef: $5.40

Weekly orders can be made through Marche Central for meats and fresh vegetables. You will need to set up an account with them. They fax weekly price lists of their specials to the schools at the end of each week; however, you can place any food order that you require. You fax you order on Sunday/Monday and your order will arrive on Friday afternoon on First Air. Most items at the store are more expensive then they are down south.
It is advisable that teachers, upon initial hire, make up a list of foodstuffs they will need for the year and place their order for the annual sealift that takes places in the fall. This sealift would mainly comprise of cases of canned and dry goods, cleaning supplies, and paper products. These are quite expensive at the two local stores. Find enclosed the addresses and telephone numbers of the two companies who do sealifts. They will send you catalogues that have lists of prices for their products. If you decide to place a sealift order, be sure to ask for the cut-off date for the boat.
Sealift: Marche Turenne Inc. Boat: Desgagnes Transarctik Inc.
4880 Ste Rose Boulevard (450) 635-0883
Laval PQ H7R 2B4 www.arcticsealift.com
e-mail: marcheturenne@bellnet.ca
ph: 514-637-3231
fax: 514-637-3230

Communications
For phone service, call Northwestel at 1-800-661-0493. A residential line costs $35. per month. A long distance calling plan is available for $25. per month. Hook ups for telephone and electricity are done in the community; however, it make take several days for your telephone hook up to be completed.

CBC radio broadcasts on an FM station, which is interrupted at intervals during the day with local programming.

Both cable and satellite services are available by contacting the local agent in the community. To set up your cable and to make payments you go to the local candy store across from the school. Paying cable for the year will save you money as opposed to paying monthly. You can bring your own satellite with you or you can order one from the Northern store. You can set up your own satellite the same as you would down south. Be sure to purchase the largest sized dish, as this will provide you with the best reception, especially during bad weather.

Internet service is available at the schools. It is possible to get Internet service at your home, but you must pay for the long distance connection to the nearest server, which is in Iqaluit. The cost of an Internet connection at home can be costly because the connection is extremely slow.

There is a Canada Post outlet that is open from 9am to 12pm and again from 1pm to 5pm Monday through Friday. Allow two to three weeks for letter or parcel delivery in Canada. Express Post is available, and significantly reduces delivery time. Of course, it is significantly more expensive.

Power
The Nunavut Power Corporation supplies the town with electricity. Power service is well subsidized and fees vary depending on your residence, consumption, and household. A typical power bill can cost anywhere from $50. to $150. per month.

Medical
The Health Centre is open weekdays from 9am to 5pm, staffed by registered nurses who treat routine health problems. Nurses are also on call for emergencies. Doctors and dentists regularly visit the town.

Police
The RCMP has a detachment in Cape Dorset. For Emergencies, contact the RCMP, call 897-1111. There are also community by-law officers, employed by the hamlet, who regularly patrol the community.

Recreation
Peter Pitseolak School has a portable classroom that substitutes for a weight room. There are some exercise machines and weights where you can work out. There are usually bi-weekly bingos sponsored by the school for fund raising. This community has one hotel, the Kingait Inn. There is a restaurant located next to the school called Cal’s Coffee Shop. There is an arena with natural ice where they do have a hockey league set up. Teachers from the schools coach minor hockey at the present time. The recreational coordinator for the hamlet has various sports functions set up at Sam Pudlat School on different evening through the week. There is also a craft group that meets twice a week at the community hall during the fall and winter.

Water Truck Refilling

Cape Dorset from on high

on the streets of Cape Dorset

housing view

Church in Cape Dorset

on the "nuna"

Cape Dorset students traveled to Iqaluit for tournament

Additional Information

Activities at the Tradeshow