Baker Lake, Nunavut
| Baker Lake ᖃᒪᓂᑦᑐᐊᖅ Qamani'tuaq |
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| Hamlet | |
Baker Lake, 1995
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 Baker Lake
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| Coordinates: Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
| Country | Canada |
| Territory | Nunavut |
| Region | Kivalliq Region |
| Electoral district | Baker Lake |
| Government[1][2] | |
| • Type | Hamlet Council |
| • Mayor | Joseph Aupaluktuq |
| • MLAs | Simeon Mikkungwak |
| Area[3][4] | |
| • Hamlet | 182.22 km2 (70.36 sq mi) |
| • Urban | 0.4 km2 (0.2 sq mi) |
| Elevation[6] | 18 m (59 ft) |
| Population (2011)[3][4] | |
| • Hamlet | 1,872 |
| • Density | 10/km2 (27/sq mi) |
| • Urban | 1,165[5] |
| Time zone | CST (UTC−6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC−5) |
| Canadian Postal code | X0C 0A0 |
| Area code(s) | 867 |
| Website | www |
Baker Lake (Qamani'tuaq ("where the river widens"); Inuktitut syllabics: ᖃᒪᓂᑦᑐᐊᖅ, "big lake joined by a river at both ends"), is a hamlet in the Kivalliq Region, in Nunavut on mainland Canada. Located 320 km (200 mi) inland from Hudson Bay, it is near the nation's geographical centre, and is notable for being the Canadian Arctic's sole inland community.[7] The hamlet is located at the mouth of the Thelon River on the shore of Baker Lake. The community was given its English name in 1761 from Captain William Christopher who named it after Sir William Baker 11th Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company.[7][8][9]
Contents
History
In 1916, the Hudson's Bay Company established a trading post at Baker Lake, followed by Anglican missionaries in 1927. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police had been in the area for fifteen years before establishing a post at Baker Lake in 1930. In 1946 the population was 32, of which 25 were Inuit.[7] A small hospital was built in 1957, followed by a regional school the next year.[citation needed]
Videos of elders sharing oral histories have been collected by Inuit students as part of the Nunavut Teacher Education Program.[10]
Demographics
In the 2011 Census, Statistics Canada originally reported that Baker Lake had a population of 1,872 living in 507 of its 629 total dwellings, an 8.3% change from its 2006 population of 1,728.[11] Statistics Canada subsequently amended the 2011 census results to the same population of 1,872, but living in 506 of its 603 total dwellings.[12] With a land area of 16.82 km2 (6.49 sq mi), it had a population density of 10.3/km2 (26.6/sq mi) in 2011.[11][12]
Baker Lake is home to eleven Inuit groups:
- Ahiarmiut/Ihalmiut, originally from the north of Back River area, and from Ennadai Lake
- Akilinirmiut, originally from the Akiliniq Hills, Thelon River area of Beverly Lake, Dubawnt Lake, Aberdeen Lake
- Hanningajurmiut, originally from Garry Lake
- Harvaqtuurmiut, originally from the Kazan River area
- Hauniqturmiut, originally from Whale Cove's south, between Sandy Point and Arviat
- Iluilirmiut/Illuilirmiut, originally from Adelaide Peninsula (Iluilik), Chantrey Inlet area
- Kihlirnirmiut, originally from the Garry Lake area between Bathurst Inlet, Cambridge Bay
- Natsilingmiut, originally from Baker Lake area between Gjoa Haven, Taloyoak, Kugaaruk, Repulse Bay
- Padlermiut, originally from the Baker Lake to Arviat area
- Qaernermiut, originally from the lower Thelon River, Baker Lake, Chesterfield Inlet, Corbett Inlet areas, between Rankin Inlet and Whale Cove
- Utkuhiksalingmiut, originally from the Back River and Gjoa Haven/Wager Bay area
Geography
Climate
Baker Lake features a subarctic climate, closely bordering a polar climate.[citation needed]
| Climate data for Baker Lake Airport | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high humidex | −2.0 | −4.7 | 1.2 | 4.1 | 13.5 | 30.5 | 37.8 | 33.4 | 26.1 | 9.5 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 37.8 |
| Record high °C (°F) | −1.7 (28.9) |
−4.1 (24.6) |
1.5 (34.7) |
5.0 (41) |
13.9 (57) |
28.1 (82.6) |
33.6 (92.5) |
30.9 (87.6) |
22.6 (72.7) |
9.8 (49.6) |
2.2 (36) |
1.1 (34) |
33.6 (92.5) |
| Average high °C (°F) | −27.7 (−17.9) |
−27.4 (−17.3) |
−22.0 (−7.6) |
−12.3 (9.9) |
−3.0 (26.6) |
9.3 (48.7) |
17.0 (62.6) |
14.3 (57.7) |
6.4 (43.5) |
−3.4 (25.9) |
−15.5 (4.1) |
−23.1 (−9.6) |
−7.3 (18.9) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −31.3 (−24.3) |
−31.1 (−24) |
−26.3 (−15.3) |
−17.0 (1.4) |
−6.4 (20.5) |
4.9 (40.8) |
11.6 (52.9) |
9.8 (49.6) |
3.1 (37.6) |
−6.5 (20.3) |
−19.3 (−2.7) |
−26.8 (−16.2) |
−11.3 (11.7) |
| Average low °C (°F) | −34.8 (−30.6) |
−34.8 (−30.6) |
−30.6 (−23.1) |
−21.5 (−6.7) |
−9.8 (14.4) |
0.5 (32.9) |
6.1 (43) |
5.3 (41.5) |
−0.2 (31.6) |
−9.5 (14.9) |
−23.1 (−9.6) |
−30.5 (−22.9) |
−15.2 (4.6) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −50.6 (−59.1) |
−50.0 (−58) |
−50.0 (−58) |
−41.1 (−42) |
−27.8 (−18) |
−13.9 (7) |
−1.7 (28.9) |
−3.4 (25.9) |
−14.4 (6.1) |
−30.6 (−23.1) |
−42.7 (−44.9) |
−45.6 (−50.1) |
−50.6 (−59.1) |
| Record low wind chill | −71.5 | −70.5 | −66.1 | −58.5 | −42.3 | −23.5 | −5.8 | −10.2 | −23.0 | −46.9 | −59.2 | −64.0 | −71.5 |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 6.2 (0.244) |
7.5 (0.295) |
11.4 (0.449) |
14.0 (0.551) |
14.5 (0.571) |
23.1 (0.909) |
41.1 (1.618) |
52.0 (2.047) |
48.7 (1.917) |
27.0 (1.063) |
16.0 (0.63) |
11.1 (0.437) |
272.5 (10.728) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 0.0 (0) |
0.0 (0) |
0.0 (0) |
0.1 (0.004) |
4.8 (0.189) |
20.3 (0.799) |
41.1 (1.618) |
51.2 (2.016) |
40.6 (1.598) |
5.2 (0.205) |
0.1 (0.004) |
0.0 (0) |
163.4 (6.433) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 7.4 (2.91) |
8.8 (3.46) |
13.8 (5.43) |
16.0 (6.3) |
11.1 (4.37) |
2.6 (1.02) |
0.0 (0) |
0.9 (0.35) |
7.7 (3.03) |
24.4 (9.61) |
20.3 (7.99) |
13.5 (5.31) |
126.5 (49.8) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 5.5 | 6.6 | 7.4 | 7.2 | 7.5 | 7.6 | 9.5 | 12.2 | 12.9 | 12.9 | 9.6 | 8.1 | 107.0 |
| Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 2.3 | 6.8 | 9.4 | 12.2 | 10.4 | 2.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 43.8 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) | 5.8 | 6.8 | 7.8 | 7.3 | 6.1 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 4.1 | 11.6 | 10.3 | 8.4 | 70.0 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 65.1 | 64.1 | 66.8 | 75.4 | 81.4 | 67.4 | 58.8 | 65.3 | 73.7 | 83.3 | 74.1 | 67.6 | 70.2 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 29.8 | 97.6 | 178.4 | 233.7 | 194.0 | 284.2 | 327.0 | 199.6 | 90.1 | 54.2 | 43.8 | 16.1 | 1,748.3 |
| Percent possible sunshine | 17.7 | 41.0 | 49.2 | 51.7 | 33.9 | 45.2 | 53.5 | 39.2 | 22.9 | 17.8 | 22.3 | 12.0 | 33.9 |
| Source: Environment Canada Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010[13] | |||||||||||||
Wildlife
Baker Lake is host to a variety of wildlife including caribou, muskox, Arctic Hares and jack rabbits, wolves, wolverines, sik-siks, geese and lake trout among others.[citation needed]
Economy
Many of the town's residents work in the nearby mines.[14] Much of the local infrastructure and logistics-related employment is based around aiding mineral exploration and mining efforts in the wider area. The main source of employment and growth in this sector is Canadian-based mining company Agnico-Eagle Mines, who in 2010 began work at their Meadowbank mine site located 86 km (53 mi) north of Baker Lake.[15] The construction of the mine employed over 1,000 workers, over 30% of them were locals from the general area of the Kivalliq Region. Along with employing local people, the company helped build cellphone towers to get the community connected to Northwestel's cellphone service. The coming of workers from all across Canada also helped developing tourism in this community. There is also potential for a uranium mine, called the Kiggavik Project, which is being proposed by AREVA Resources Canada.[16]
Arts and culture
Baker Lake is known for its Inuit art, such as wallhangings, basalt stone sculptures and stonecut prints. The community has been home to internationally exhibited artists such as Matthew Agigaaq, Elizabeth Angrnaqquaq, Luke Anguhadluq, Barnabus Arnasungaaq, David Ikutaq, Toona Iquliq, Jessie Oonark, Irene Avaalaaqiaq Tiktaalaaq, Simon Tookoome, and Marion Tuu'luq.[17]
The Jessie Ooonark Arts and Crafts Centre, which opened in 1992, is a work area for the communities artists. It provides space for carving, print making, sewing and jewellery making. It is also home to Jessie Oonark Crafts Ltd. a subsidiary of the Nunavut Development Corporation, a Government of Nunavut crown corporation.[18][19]
Government
The current mayor of Baker Lake is Joseph Aupaluktuq.
Infrastructure
Transportation
The settlement is served by Baker Lake Airport, linking it to the nearby coastal town of Rankin Inlet, about 30 minutes away by air. Calm Air, and First Air serve the town with at least two flights daily. Sundays offer flights to Winnipeg.
Services
Baker Lake has a woman's shelter, health centre, dental clinic, counselling centre, elders' centre, three hotels, swimming pool, library, primary and secondary school, and youth centre. There are three churches in the community, Anglican, Catholic and Glad Tidings.[citation needed]. Baker Lake has cellular telephone service, unlike most of the villages in the Kivalliq Region. The community also has an FM radio station, local internet service, and cable TV.[citation needed]
See also
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References
- ↑ Nunavummiut vie for council positions in upcoming hamlet elections
- ↑ Results for the constituency of Baker Lake at Elections Nunavut
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Baker Lake Community Profile
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Baker Lake Population Centre
- ↑ "Population and dwelling counts, for population centres, 2011 and 2006 censuses". Statistics Canada, January 12, 2012.
- ↑ Elevation at airport. Canada Flight Supplement. Effective 0901Z 24 July 2014 to 0901Z 18 September 2014
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Governors
- ↑ Baker Lake history
- ↑ Elder's Stories in Baker Lake, Nunavut
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ "Mine's alchemy turns Nunavut poverty into hope", Nunatsiaq Online. June 20, 2010.
- ↑ Agnico-Eagle Mines Ltd., Meadowbank Site Overview
- ↑ http://www.arevaresources.ca/exploration/kiggavik_scissons/
- ↑ Artists and artwork represented at Spirit Wrestler Gallery, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- ↑ Jessie Oonark Crafts Ltd.
- ↑ Nunavut Development Corporation
Further reading
- Baker Lake Residents' Association, and Mary McCulloch. Baker Lake, N.W.T., 1870-1970. Baker Lake, N.W.T.: Baker Lake Residents' Association, 1971.
- Kardosh, Judy. Works on Cloth Imagery by Artists of Baker Lake, Nunavut. Vancouver: Marion Scott Gallery, 2002. ISBN 0-921634-36-6
- Klassen, R. A. Drift composition and glacial dispersal trains, Baker Lake area, District of Keewatin, northwest territories. Ottawa: Geological Survey of Canada, 1995. ISBN 0-660-16087-0
- Krebs, Charles J. The Lemming Cycle at Baker Lake, Northwest Territories, During 1959-62. 1964.
- Miller, A. R. Uranium Geology of the Eastern Baker Lake Basin, District of Keewatin, Northwest Territories. [Ottawa]: Energy, Mines, and Resources Canada, 1980. ISBN 0-660-10707-4
- Renewable Resources Consulting Services. Study of the Effects of Resource Exploration and Development on Hunting and Trapping on the Traditional Economy of the Inuit in the Baker Lake Area. Edmonton: Renewable Resources Consulting Services, 1977.
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Baker Lake. |
- Baker Lake Official Website
- Baker Lake at the Government of Nunavut
- Video wiki where elders share Baker Lake's oral history
- Historical photos of Baker Lake
- Encyclopedia Canada: "Inuit Printmaking: Baker Lake"
- Agnico-Eagle Mines Ltd., Meadowbank Site Overview
- Location maps with removed parameters
- Articles with unsourced statements from January 2010
- Articles with unsourced statements from September 2014
- Articles with unsourced statements from December 2011
- Pages using div col with unknown parameters
- Commons category link is locally defined
- Hudson's Bay Company trading posts in Nunavut
- Hamlets in the Kivalliq Region
- Road-inaccessible communities of Nunavut
