Baker Lake, Nunavut

Baker Lake
ᖃᒪᓂᑦᑐᐊᖅ
Qamani'tuaq
Hamlet

Baker Lake, 1995
Baker Lake
Coordinates: 64°19′05″N 096°01′03″W / 64.31806°N 96.01750°W / 64.31806; -96.01750Coordinates: 64°19′05″N 096°01′03″W / 64.31806°N 96.01750°W / 64.31806; -96.01750
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[5] 18 m (59 ft)
Population (2011)[3][4]
 • Hamlet 1,872
 • Density 10/km2 (27/sq mi)
 • Urban 1,165[6]
Time zone CST (UTC−6)
 • Summer (DST) CDT (UTC−5)
Canadian Postal code X0C 0A0
Area code(s) 867
Website www.bakerlake.ca

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]

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.

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:

Geography

Climate

Baker Lake features a subarctic climate, closely bordering a polar climate. Winters run from October/November until April/May with temperatures averaging between −21 and −25 °C (−6 and −13 °F).[13] In contrast to Fairbanks, Alaska on a similar parallel, May is a colder month and June is chilly considering the perpetual daylight. Summers are cool and very short and narrowly go above the 10 °C (50 °F) threshold to not be a polar climate.

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.

Economy

Man and Child, Serpentine (1999). Artist: Barnabus Arnasungaaq (Baker Lake, Nunavut)

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

Baker Lake - Autumn 2009

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.. 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.

See also

References

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

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