| Pangnirtung
Introduction
History
Introduction
Pangnirtung, 50 km south of the Arctic Circle, is situated on the broad reaches of an old beach below the mountains of the Pangnirtung fiord, on the northern side of Cumberland Sound. Pangnirtung’s landscape is stunning. Snow-capped mountains that rise out of Pangnirtung fiord surround the town. Nearby Auyuittuq National Park is beyond words - glaciers, waterfalls, sheer cliffs, and distinctive flat-topped peaks and semi-circular valleys make the park a must-see while you are here.
History
Long before non-Inuit arrived, Cumberland Sound was home for Inuit and their predecessors; both Thule and Dorset culture sites are found here. In fact, the area probably was home to a large population since the earliest times of human habitation in the Arctic. The first European known to have come here is John Davis in 1585, searching for a passage through the Arctic region to the Far East. In 1840, a Scottish whaler named William Penny and his guide Eenooloapik came upon the entrance to Cumberland Sound, which quickly became a popular spot for bowhead whaling by Scots and Americans. The result of whaling had a devastating effect on the Inuit; the Inuit population in this area went from approximately 1000 to around 350 in just a few years. The traders of the Hudson Bay Company chose the current town site in 1921.
According to local legend, a man named Attagoyuk named the area Pangnirtung - “the place of the bull caribou”- in his youth. Today, Pangnirtung is the second largest community in the Baffin region.
Other dates of historical interest:
1923- RCMP established a detachment in Pangnirtung
1956- First federal teacher arrived in Pangnirtung
1961- Government administrative office opened
1960’s- A government housing program built houses in Pangnirtung
1990’s- Pangnirtung begins graduating students from the community.
Pangnirtung scenery
The Community of Pangnirtung
Weather
Wildlife
Weather
Pangnirtung’s weather is unpredictable. Temperatures are harsh in the winter, where wind chill temperatures can be –60°C or below. Pangnirtung does experience periods of high winds, and, as a result, all of the buildings in town are cabled to the ground.
Pangnirtung also experiences short days in the winter. During December, Pangnirtung does not receive direct sunlight. The temperature in July and August usually averages between 5°C and 15°C. There is continuous light from June until August.
Wildlife
The Pangnirtung area is home to caribou, foxes, wolves, seals, beluga and bowhead whales, narwhal, Arctic char, turbot, arctic hare, lemmings and more. Pangnirtung is also rich in bird life: ptarmigan, geese, ravens, gulls, and various small songbirds, to name only a few.
Pangnirtung offers incredible views
Transportation
Housing
Transportation
There are daily flights from Pangnirtung to Iqaluit and Qikiqtarjuaq throughout the week. Travel in and out of Pangnirtung is through either First Air or Kenn Borek air. A return ticket to Ottawa on First Air can run from $1500 to $2000. All flights to and from Pangnirtung stop in Iqaluit. First Air is an Air Canada partner.
Most people in town get around by snowmobile or ATV. A number of community members own cars or trucks. There is a taxi service in town available at $5. per trip to anywhere in town.
Housing
As with most communities in Nunavut, housing is in short supply. 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.
To inquire about government housing, call Kevin Trudell at 867-897-3660.
For repairs to government units call Nowdlak Services at 473-8177.
For municipal water and sewage services, call 473-8902.
View of the community
Coast Guard
School
School
Currently, Pangnirtung has two schools: one for students in Kindergarten to grade 5 - Alookie School and one for students in grades 6 to grade 12 school - Attagoyuk School (pronounced att-a-goo-yook). As of March 2004 Alookie School has a population of 190 students. Alookie has 13 staff members. The primary language taught at Alookie is Inuktitut. Children learn in this language for the majority of their classes. English is
introduced in grade 3. When students come to Attagoyuk, it is the first time that they are taught in English. Each student takes Inuktitut as a course at Attagoyuk, but English is the predominant language of instruction at the high school.
Attagoyuk School has a student population of 230 students. There are 26 staff members. Attagoyuk offers the regular range of classes; depending on the grade level, students are offered courses in social studies, the sciences, math, language arts, health, art shop, sewing, Inuktitut, northern studies, and physical education. The average class size at Attagoyuk is approximately 20 students per class in the junior high level. Class sizes differ depending on enrollment and attendance in high school courses.
You can contact Attagoyuk School at 867-473-8812 or by fax at 473-8858.
Food
Communications
Postal Service
Power
Medical
Police
Churches
Recreation
Food
Food costs are very high. Here is a sample of the Northern Store food prices:
2L of milk..........$6.70
1 dozen eggs........$3.89
1 lb butter.........$4.79
1 orange............$2.70
1 can of Coke.......$1.80
1 can of frozen OJ..$3.25
10 kg of flour......$47.99
Food can be purchased in town from the High Arctic, the Northern Store, or the Inuit Coop. The selection of fresh produce and specialty items in the local stores is limited. To obtain fresh produce, people will often order food mail. Places such as Marche Daoust will deliver food by plane. To place an order, you must place a faxed order on Monday morning to receive food on Friday’s plane. There is a cost for order processing and postage, so this can get to be quite expensive.
For non-perishable and frozen foods, people often place sealift orders (large orders that are delivered by large barges during the summer). Orders are usually made in May or June and are delivered between July and October. Orders can be made through several companies, including Marche Turenne (514-637-3231), or Marche Daoust (450-373-7347). A sealift is recommended for items such as toilet paper, pet food, laundry detergent, soft drinks, canned food, flour, sugar, and frozen foods.
For other items to be sealifted, you can contact North Eastern Arctic Shipping at 1-888-908-0000.
There are no banks in Pangnirtung. There is a cash withdrawal machine at the Quick Stop in the Northern Store. The Northern also offers cash accounts. Normal banking activities can be done over the phone, Internet, or through mail. The closest banks are in Iqaluit, which includes the Royal Bank, Bank of Montreal, and CIBC. You can use your debit card at the bank machine in the Northern Store to obtain cash as well as to pay for purchases at both the Northern store and the Co-op. Visa is also accepted.
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.
CBC radio broadcasts on an FM station, which is interrupted at intervals during the day with local programming.
For cable TV hook up (45 channels for $58.50 per month), call Pangnirtung Inuit Co-op at 473-8936.
Internet service is available at the school or the library free of charge. 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. A high speed Internet connection is scheduled to become available within the next year and a half.
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. To set up electricity, call Nunavut Power Corporation at 473-8816.
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. Contact the health center at 473-8977. Serious medical conditions, procedures, or emergencies are flown to Iqaluit or Ottawa.
Police
The RCMP has a detachment in Pangnirtung. To contact the RCMP, call 473-1111. There are also community by-law officers, employed by the hamlet, who regularly patrol the community.
Churches
Pangnirtung has an Anglican and Pentecostal church.
Recreation
For recreational activities, Pangnirtung has an arena. The school has a large gym that is used by the community for activities in the evenings. Activities include soccer, basketball, and volleyball. The gym also has some weights.
Many people participate in outdoor activities such as hiking, hunting, fishing, and snowmobile riding. For hunting and fishing licenses, call the department of sustainable resources at 473-8937.
There is also an arena in town for hockey. For hockey and ice times, call Aksayuk Arena at 473-8710.
The Community
Pangnirtung in winter
View of the Nuna
Additional Information
Alcohol is prohibited in Pangnirtung. It is illegal to possess any amount of alcohol. People caught with alcohol will receive a fine and possible community service. The penalty for a professional educator caught with alcohol may be dismissal from employment.
Other employment opportunities exist for family members that may be joining you. For more information on employment opportunities, call the numbers below:
RCMP (guarding work) 473-1111
Northern Store 473-8935
The Coop- 473-8936
Arctic College 473-8923
Beautiful View!