Baker Lake, Nunavut
| Baker Lake ᖃᒪᓂᑦᑐᐊᖅ Qamani’tuaq |
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| — Hamlet — | |
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 Baker Lake
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| Coordinates: 64°19′05″N 096°01′03″W / 64.31806°N 96.0175°WCoordinates: 64°19′05″N 096°01′03″W / 64.31806°N 96.0175°W | |
| Country |  Canada |
| Territory |  Nunavut |
| Region | Kivalliq Region |
| Electoral district | Baker Lake |
| Government[1][2] | |
| • Type | Hamlet Council |
| • Mayor | David Aksawnee |
| • MLAs | Moses Aupaluktuq |
| Area[3] | |
| • Total | 182.22 km2 (70.36 sq mi) |
| Elevation[4] | 18 m (59 ft) |
| Population (2006)[3] | |
| • Total | 1,728 |
| • Density | 9.5/km2 (25/sq mi) |
| Time zone | CST (UTC−6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC−5) |
| Canadian Postal code | X0C 0A0 |
| Area code(s) | 867 |
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.[5] 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.[5][6][7]
Contents |
[edit] Art
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 Jessie Oonark, Simon Tookoome, Irene Avaalaaqiaq Tiktaalaaq, Toona Iquliq, Barnabus Arnasungaaq, Marion Tuu'luq, Matthew Agigaaq, David Ikutaq and Luke Anguhadluq.[8]
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.[9][10]
[edit] Economy
Many of the town's residents work in the nearby mines. [11] 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 north of Baker Lake.[12] The construction of the mine employed over 1000 workers, over 30% of them were locals from the general area of the Kivalliq Region. Along with employing more than 30% locals, the company helped build cellphone towers to get the community connected to Northwestel's cellphone community. 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.[13] The current mayor of Baker Lake is David Aksawnee
[edit] 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, Kivalliq Air and First Air serve the town with at least 2 flights daily. Sundays offer flights to Winnipeg.
==Services and infrastructure Baker Lake has a woman's shelter, health center, 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 obtains food through food mail that is subsidised groceries (as long as it is nutritious and meets Canada's Food Guide standards) and up to 80% of the freight and it is flown up from Winnipeg. More and more people are using this to avoid higher costs of food at the local Northern Store and other stores. Baker Lake has cellular telephone service, unlike most of the villages in Kivalliq Region. The community also has an FM radio station, a local internet service, and cable TV.[citation needed]
[edit] Wildlife
Baker Lake is host to a variety of wildlife including caribou, muskox, Arctic hares and jack rabbits, wolves, wolverines, sik-siks, geese, lake trout, among others.[citation needed]
[edit] 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.[5] By the 2006 census, the population of 1,728 represented an increase of 14.7% from the 2001 census. A small hospital was built in 1957, followed by a regional school the next year.[citation needed] Video of elders sharing oral histories can be found at a wiki run by Inuit student teachers.
[edit] People
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
[edit] Climate
| Climate data for Baker Lake Airport | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Humidex | -2.0 | -4.7 | 1.2 | 4.1 | 13.5 | 30.5 | 37.8 | 33.4 | 26.1 | 9.5 | 1.7 | -1.7 | 37.8 |
| Record high °C (°F) | −1.7 (28.9) |
−4.1 (24.6) |
1.5 (34.7) |
5.0 (41.0) |
13.9 (57.0) |
28.1 (82.6) |
33.6 (92.5) |
30.9 (87.6) |
22.6 (72.7) |
9.7 (49.5) |
2.2 (36.0) |
−1.1 (30.0) |
33.6 (92.5) |
| Average high °C (°F) | −28.7 (−19.7) |
−27.9 (−18.2) |
−22.9 (−9.2) |
−12.6 (9.3) |
−2.2 (28.0) |
9.2 (48.6) |
16.7 (62.1) |
14.0 (57.2) |
5.9 (42.6) |
−4.2 (24.4) |
−16.3 (2.7) |
−24.8 (−12.6) |
−7.8 (18.0) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −32.3 (−26.1) |
−31.5 (−24.7) |
−27.2 (−17.0) |
−17.4 (0.7) |
−5.8 (21.6) |
4.9 (40.8) |
11.4 (52.5) |
9.5 (49.1) |
2.6 (36.7) |
−7.5 (18.5) |
−20.1 (−4.2) |
−28.4 (−19.1) |
−11.8 (10.8) |
| Average low °C (°F) | −35.8 (−32.4) |
−35.1 (−31.2) |
−31.5 (−24.7) |
−22.1 (−7.8) |
−9.4 (15.1) |
0.5 (32.9) |
6.0 (42.8) |
5.0 (41.0) |
−0.6 (30.9) |
−10.7 (12.7) |
−23.9 (−11.0) |
−31.9 (−25.4) |
−15.8 (3.6) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −50.6 (−59.1) |
−50 (−58.0) |
−50 (−58.0) |
−41.1 (−42.0) |
−27.8 (−18.0) |
−13.9 (7.0) |
−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) |
| Wind chill | −71.5 | −70.5 | −66.1 | −58.5 | −42.3 | −23.5 | −6.2 | −10.2 | −23 | −46.9 | −59.2 | −64 | −71.5 |
| Precipitation mm (inches) | 7.5 (0.295) |
7.2 (0.283) |
10.5 (0.413) |
13.6 (0.535) |
15.6 (0.614) |
24.1 (0.949) |
41.8 (1.646) |
47.0 (1.85) |
44.1 (1.736) |
32.1 (1.264) |
17.0 (0.669) |
10.2 (0.402) |
270.4 (10.646) |
| Rainfall mm (inches) | 0.0 (0) |
0.0 (0) |
0.0 (0) |
0.5 (0.02) |
6.7 (0.264) |
20.8 (0.819) |
41.8 (1.646) |
45.7 (1.799) |
35.8 (1.409) |
5.3 (0.209) |
0.1 (0.004) |
0.0 (0) |
156.7 (6.169) |
| Snowfall cm (inches) | 8.4 (3.31) |
8.4 (3.31) |
12.8 (5.04) |
15.3 (6.02) |
10.2 (4.02) |
3.3 (1.3) |
0.0 (0) |
1.3 (0.51) |
8.1 (3.19) |
29.4 (11.57) |
21.3 (8.39) |
12.2 (4.8) |
130.7 (51.46) |
| Avg. precipitation days | 6.7 | 7 | 7.8 | 8 | 6.9 | 7.5 | 9.3 | 11.8 | 13.3 | 14.5 | 9.6 | 8.3 | 110.7 |
| Avg. rainy days | 0 | 0 | 0.03 | 0.33 | 2.4 | 6.6 | 9.2 | 11.8 | 9.8 | 2.5 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 42.7 |
| Avg. snowy days | 6.9 | 7.3 | 8.3 | 8.1 | 5.6 | 1.7 | 0.03 | 0.43 | 5 | 13.3 | 10.5 | 8.6 | 75.8 |
| Source: 1971-2000 Environment Canada[14] | |||||||||||||
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Hamlets elect new councils
- ^ Election Results - 2008 General Election
- ^ a b Baker Lake Community Profile
- ^ Elevation at airport. Canada Flight Supplement. Effective 0901Z 15 December 2011 to 0901Z 9 February 2012
- ^ a b c <http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/lac-bac/result/all-tout.php?FormName=Fed+Simple+Search&SourceQuery=&ResultCount=5&PageNum=1&SortSpec=score+desc&Language=eng&SearchIn_1=&SearchInText_1=Baker+Lake+Lunan&Operator_1=AND&SearchIn_2=&SearchInText_2=&Operator_2=AND&SearchIn_3=&SearchInText_3=&Sources_1=amicus&Sources_2=mikan&Sources_3=genapp&Sources_4=web&soundex=on&cainInd=0> "Sandy Lunan, Hudson's Bay Co. Factor, baking his own bread, Baker Lake, Northwest Territories, 1946". Library and Archives Canada. http://collectionscanada.gc.ca/pam_archives/index.php?fuseaction=genitem.displayEcopies&lang=eng&rec_nbr=3201263&rec_nbr_list=3201263,3409362,3409360&title=Sandy+Lunan%2C+Hudson%27s+Bay+Co.+Factor%2C+baking+his+own+bread%2C+Baker+Lake+%2F+Sandy+Lunan%2C+fait+du+pain+au+lac+Baker.+&ecopy=a141736&back_url=<http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/lac-bac/result/all-tout.php?FormName=Fed+Simple+Search&SourceQuery=&ResultCount=5&PageNum=1&SortSpec=score+desc&Language=eng&SearchIn_1=&SearchInText_1=Baker+Lake+Lunan&Operator_1=AND&SearchIn_2=&SearchInText_2=&Operator_2=AND&SearchIn_3=&SearchInText_3=&Sources_1=amicus&Sources_2=mikan&Sources_3=genapp&Sources_4=web&soundex=on&cainInd=0>. Retrieved 2008-03-17.
- ^ Governors
- ^ Baker Lake history
- ^ Artists and artwork represented at Spirit Wrestler Gallery, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- ^ Jessie Oonark Crafts Ltd.
- ^ Nunavut Development Corporation
- ^ "Mine’s alchemy turns Nunavut poverty into hope", Nunatsiaq Online. June 20, 2010.
- ^ http://www.agnico-eagle.com/English/Our-Business/Operating-Mines/Meadowbank/Overview/default.aspx Agnico-Eagle Mines Ltd., Meadowbank Site Overview
- ^ http://www.arevaresources.ca/exploration/kiggavik_scissons/
- ^ Environment Canada—Canadian Climate Normals 1971–2000. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
[edit] 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 0921634366
- Klassen, R. A. Drift composition and glacial dispersal trains, Baker Lake area, District of Keewatin, northwest territories. Ottawa: Geological Survey of Canada, 1995. ISBN 0660160870
- 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 0660107074
- 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.
[edit] 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
