Pangnirtung

There is some confusion about the village name. Residents say the real name is Pangniqtuuq, which means "the place of many bull caribou".[7] 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.[8]

The Inuit and their ancestors, Paleo-Eskimo, have inhabited the area for thousands of years, perhaps up to 4000 years.[9] Their cultures became well-adapted to the climate and environment.

Contact with European Canadians has been limited to less than the last century. 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.[10]

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 1.6% from its 2016 population of 1,481. With a land area of 7.98 km² (3.08 sq mi), it had a population density of 188.5/km² (488.1/sq mi) in 2021.[5]

The community operates a turbot fishery. In 2008, the federal government budgeted for the construction of a harbour.[20] Pangnirtung Fisheries Limited operates a packing plant to process local turbot catches.[21] Founded in 1992 during peak summer operations the company has over 40 employees during peak season.[22]

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

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.[23]

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.[24]

For emergency services it is protected by the 14-member Pangnirtung Fire Department.[25] The fire service uses one pumper with one older reserve from one station. Policing is provided by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Pangnirtung Detachment[26] attached to V Division.[27]

Mini C, The North West Company (Northern Store), Pangnirtung Inuit Co-op and Co-op Express are the only local retailers and grocery options.[28][29] 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[30]

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

There are two schools in Pangnirtung:[31]

• 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.

Aksayuk Arena is a sports and recreational centre.

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 SUV's, pickup trucks, 4-wheel ATV's and snowmobiles.

Two churches can be found in Pangnirtung:[32]

• St. Luke's Anglican Church[33]
• Full Gospel (Pentecostal) Church

Basic medical services are available at the Health Centre. Four beds are available for assessment only, with advance care via medevac to Iqaluit.[34]

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 to the Parks Canada office is the Angmarlik Visitor Centre.[35][36] Iglunga, now uninhabited, is an Inuit hamlet, just south of Iglunga Island, is about 65 km (40 mi) to the west.

Panorama of Pangnirtung Fiord in winter

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.

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.

• 
  Attagoyuk Ilisavik High School, Pangnirtung
• 
  Pangnirtung Fiord
• 
  Former Hudson's Bay Blubber Station at Pangnirtung
• 
  Auyuittuq National Park Office
• 
  Tapestries at the Uqqurmiut Centre for Arts & Crafts
• 
  View of Pangnirtung and the mountains
• 
  Pangnirtung and the fjord

• List of municipalities in Nunavut

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pangnirtung.

• Uqqurmiut Inuit Artist Association
• Hamlet of Pangnirtung official website.
• Geoffrey Secord photo collection of Pangnirtung (1953-1955)
• Fur trade post under construction, Pangnirtung Fiord 1921