Baker Lake, Nunavut
Encyclopedia
Baker Lake is a hamlet
in the Kivalliq Region, in Nunavut
on mainland Canada
. Located 320 km (198.8 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. 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
.
In 1946 the population was 32 of which 25 were Inuit. By the 2006 census
, the population of 1,728 represented an increase of 14.7% from the 2001 census
There are also roughly 1,000 miners that work in nearby mines. There is also potential for a uranium mine, called the Kiggavik Project, which is being proposed by AREVA Resources Canada.
The mayor of Baker Lake is David Aksawnee.
, linking it to the nearby coastal town of Rankin Inlet. Calm Air, Kivalliq Air and First Air serve the town with 2 flights daily. They also fly on Sundays from Winnipeg to Rankin Inlet then Baker Lake. Baker Lake is approximately 30 minutes by air from Rankin Inlet.
Baker Lake has food mail which is subsidized groceries (as long as it is nutritious and meets Canada's Food Guide) 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 and Coop stores.
Baker Lake has cellular telephone service. There are very few towns in the Kivalliq Region with cell phone service—Arviat, Rankin and Baker Lake.
The community has an FM radio station—local radio bingo is very popular on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 7-9 p.m. with jackpots as high as $10,000, local internet service called qiniq.com, cable TV, a health centre, social services, mental health services, community library and three hotels.
There are two schools in Baker Lake: a high school and an elementary school. There are no vocational schools in the town.
There are three churches in the community, Anglican, Catholic and Glad Tidings.
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.
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. 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.
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. A small hospital was built in 1957, followed by a regional school the next year.
Video of elders sharing oral histories can be found at a wiki run by Inuit student teachers.
groups:
, 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.
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
.
Hamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
in the Kivalliq Region, in Nunavut
Nunavut
Nunavut is the largest and newest federal territory of Canada; it was separated officially from the Northwest Territories on April 1, 1999, via the Nunavut Act and the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act, though the actual boundaries had been established in 1993...
on mainland Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Located 320 km (198.8 mi) inland from Hudson Bay
Hudson Bay
Hudson Bay , sometimes called Hudson's Bay, is a large body of saltwater in northeastern Canada. It drains a very large area, about , that includes parts of Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Alberta, most of Manitoba, southeastern Nunavut, as well as parts of North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota,...
, it is near the nation's geographical
Geography of Canada
The geography of Canada is vast and diverse. Occupying most of the northern portion of North America , Canada is the world's second largest country in total area....
centre, and is notable for being the Canadian Arctic's sole inland community. The hamlet is located at the mouth of the Thelon River
Thelon River
The Thelon River stretches across northern Canada. Its source is Whitefish Lake in the Northwest Territories, and it flows east to Baker Lake in Nunavut. The Thelon ultimately drains into Hudson Bay at Chesterfield Inlet.-Geography:...
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
Sir William Baker
Sir William Baker was an English businessman and politician.-References:*...
11th Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
.
In 1946 the population was 32 of which 25 were Inuit. By the 2006 census
Canada 2006 Census
The Canada 2006 Census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population. Census day was May 16, 2006. The next census following will be the 2011 Census. Canada's total population enumerated by the 2006 census was 31,612,897...
, the population of 1,728 represented an increase of 14.7% from the 2001 census
Canada 2001 Census
The Canada 2001 Census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population. Census day was May 15, 2001. On that day, Statistics Canada attempted to count every person in Canada. The total population count of Canada was 30,007,094. This was a 4% increase over 1996 Census of 28,846,761. In...
There are also roughly 1,000 miners that work in nearby mines. There is also potential for a uranium mine, called the Kiggavik Project, which is being proposed by AREVA Resources Canada.
The mayor of Baker Lake is David Aksawnee.
Transportation
The settlement is served by Baker Lake AirportBaker Lake Airport
Baker Lake Airport, , is located southwest of Baker Lake, Nunavut, Canada. It is operated by the government of Nunavut.-Airlines and destinations:...
, linking it to the nearby coastal town of Rankin Inlet. Calm Air, Kivalliq Air and First Air serve the town with 2 flights daily. They also fly on Sundays from Winnipeg to Rankin Inlet then Baker Lake. Baker Lake is approximately 30 minutes by air from Rankin Inlet.
Sports
The Baker Lake Blizzards are considered the town's hockey favourites. Many teens play hockey, basketball, volleyball and badminton in competitive tournaments with other Arctic towns.Economy & services
Baker Lake has a woman's shelter, health centre, dental clinic, a dental therapist works in the school, counselling centre, elder's centre/hospice, swimming pool and a youth centre. Many of the town's residents work in the nearby mines.Baker Lake has food mail which is subsidized groceries (as long as it is nutritious and meets Canada's Food Guide) 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 and Coop stores.
Baker Lake has cellular telephone service. There are very few towns in the Kivalliq Region with cell phone service—Arviat, Rankin and Baker Lake.
The community has an FM radio station—local radio bingo is very popular on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 7-9 p.m. with jackpots as high as $10,000, local internet service called qiniq.com, cable TV, a health centre, social services, mental health services, community library and three hotels.
There are two schools in Baker Lake: a high school and an elementary school. There are no vocational schools in the town.
There are three churches in the community, Anglican, Catholic and Glad Tidings.
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.
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
Agnico-Eagle Mines
Agnico-Eagle Mines Limited is a Canadian-based gold producer with operations in Canada, Finland and Mexico and exploration and development activities extending to the United States. Agnico-Eagle has full exposure to higher gold prices consistent with its policy of no-forward gold sales...
, who in 2010 began work at their Meadowbank mine site located 86 km north of Baker Lake. 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
Cell site
A cell site is a term used to describe a site where antennas and electronic communications equipment are placed, usually on a radio mast, tower or other high place, to create a cell in a cellular network...
to get the community connected to Northwestel
Northwestel
Northwestel Inc. is the incumbent local exchange carrier and long distance carrier in Northern Canada. The company name is a portmanteau, sometimes spelled NorthwesTel, for Northwest Telecommunications.-Modern corporate history:...
's cellphone community. The coming of workers from all across Canada also helped developing tourism in this community.
History
In 1916, the Hudson's Bay CompanyHudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
established a trading post
Trading post
A trading post was a place or establishment in historic Northern America where the trading of goods took place. The preferred travel route to a trading post or between trading posts, was known as a trade route....
at Baker Lake, followed by Anglican
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
missionaries
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
in 1927. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
had been in the area for fifteen years before establishing a post at Baker Lake in 1930. A small hospital was built in 1957, followed by a regional school the next year.
Video of elders sharing oral histories can be found at a wiki run by Inuit student teachers.
People
Baker Lake is home to eleven InuitInuit
The Inuit are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Canada , Denmark , Russia and the United States . Inuit means “the people” in the Inuktitut language...
groups:
- Ahiarmiut/IhalmiutIhalmiutThe Ihalmiut or Ahiarmiut are a group of inland Inuit who lived along the banks of the Kazan River, Ennadai Lake Little Dubawnt Lake , and north of Thlewiaza in northern Canada's Keewatin Region of the Northwest Territories, now the Kivalliq Region of present-day Nunavut...
, originally from the north of Back RiverBack RiverThe Back River , is a river in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut in Canada...
area, and from Ennadai LakeEnnadai LakeEnnadai Lake is a lake in Kivalliq Region, Nunavut, Canada. It is long, and wide. It is drained to the north by the Kazan River.-Geography:The lake is within the Hearne Domain.-Flora:... - Akilinirmiut, originally from the Akiliniq Hills, Thelon RiverThelon RiverThe Thelon River stretches across northern Canada. Its source is Whitefish Lake in the Northwest Territories, and it flows east to Baker Lake in Nunavut. The Thelon ultimately drains into Hudson Bay at Chesterfield Inlet.-Geography:...
area of Beverly LakeBeverly Lake (Nunavut)Beverly Lake is a lake in Kivalliq Region, Nunavut, Canada. It is located north of the Arctic tree line about northwest of Baker Lake, Nunavut. The western half of the lake is within Thelon Wildlife Sanctuary. The Thelon River, at the confluence with the Dubawnt River, empties into the lake's...
, Dubawnt LakeDubawnt LakeDubawnt Lake is a lake in Kivalliq Region, Nunavut, Canada. It is in size and has several islands. It is about 200 miles north of the point where Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Nunavut come together, about 300 miles west of Hudson Bay and about 250 miles south of the arctic circle. To the northwest is...
, Aberdeen Lake - Hanningajurmiut, originally from Garry LakeGarry LakeGarry Lake is a lake in sub-Arctic Kivalliq Region, Nunavut, Canada. As a portion of the Back River waterway, Garry Lake originates directly east of Lake Pelly and drains to the east by the Back River. A set of rapids separate Buliard Lake from Garry Lake...
- HarvaqtuurmiutHarvaqtuurmiutthumb|right|Inuit [[inukshuk]] on the lower [[Kazan River]] used during the caribou hunt.Harvaqtuurmiut were a Caribou Inuit society in Nunavut, Canada. Predominantly, their inland existence was along the lower Kazan River section, by Thirty Mile Lake, that they called Harvaqtuuq...
, originally from the Kazan River area - Hauniqturmiut, originally from Whale CoveWhale Cove, NunavutWhale Cove , is a hamlet located south of Rankin Inlet, north of Arviat, in Kivalliq Region, Nunavut, Canada, on the western shore of Hudson Bay....
's south, between Sandy Point and Arviat - Iluilirmiut/Illuilirmiut, originally from Adelaide PeninsulaAdelaide PeninsulaAdelaide Peninsula , ancestral home to the Illuilirmiut Inuit, is a large peninsula in Nunavut, Canada. It is located at south of King William Island....
(Iluilik), Chantrey InletChantrey InletThe Back River reaches the Arctic Ocean at Chantrey Inlet on the east side of Adelaide Peninsula, Nunavut, Canada. Montreal Island is contained within the Inlet, while King William Island shelters the Inlet. It is long and wide at its mouth...
area - Kihlirnirmiut, originally from the Garry Lake area between Bathurst InletBathurst InletBathurst Inlet is a deep inlet located along the northern coast of the Canadian mainland, into which the Burnside and Western Rivers empty. The name, or its native equivalent Kingoak , is also used to identify the community of Bathurst Inlet located on the shore.-Plans for a deep-water port:A...
, Cambridge BayCambridge Bay, NunavutCambridge Bay, named for Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge, is a hamlet located in the Kitikmeot Region of Nunavut, Canada... - Natsilingmiut, originally from Baker Lake area between Gjoa HavenGjoa Haven, NunavutGjoa Haven is a hamlet in Nunavut, above the Arctic Circle, located in the Kitikmeot Region, northeast of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. It is the only settlement on King William Island...
, TaloyoakTaloyoak, NunavutTaloyoak or Talurjuaq is located on the Boothia Peninsula, Kitikmeot, in Canada's Nunavut Territory. The community is served only by air and by annual supply sealift. Taloyoak may mean "large blind", referring to a stone caribou blind or a screen used for caribou hunting...
, KugaarukKugaaruk, Nunavut-Culture:The historical inhabitants were Arviligjuarmiut. Kugaaruk is a traditional "Central Inuit" community. Until 1968, the people followed a nomadic lifestyle. The population is approximately 97% Inuit and most people self-identify as Netsilik Inuit. The residents blend a land based lifestyle...
, Repulse BayRepulse Bay, NunavutRepulse Bay is an Inuit hamlet located on the shore of Hudson Bay, Kivalliq Region, in Nunavut, Canada.-Location and wildlife:The hamlet is located exactly on the Arctic Circle, on the north shore of Repulse Bay and on the south shore of the Rae Isthmus. Transport to the community is provided... - Padlermiut, originally from the Baker Lake to Arviat area
- Qaernermiut, originally from the lower Thelon River, Baker Lake, Chesterfield InletChesterfield Inlet, NunavutThe community of Chesterfield Inlet is located on the western shore of Hudson Bay, Kivalliq Region, in Nunavut Canada at the mouth of Chesterfield Inlet. Igluligaarjuk is the Inuktitut word for "place with few houses", it is the oldest community in Nunavut...
, Corbett Inlet areas, between Rankin Inlet and Whale Cove - Utkuhiksalingmiut, originally from the Back River and Gjoa Haven/Wager BayWager BayWager Bay is a waterway in Kivalliq Region, Nunavut, Canada. It is located in Hudson Bay. Ukkusiksalik National Park surrounds it.Wager Bay was first charted by Christopher Middleton during his Arctic explorations of 1742....
area
Inuit art
Baker Lake is known for its Inuit artInuit art
Inuit art refers to artwork produced by Inuit people, that is, the people of the Arctic previously known as Eskimos, a term that is now often considered offensive outside Alaska...
, such as wallhangings, basalt
Basalt
Basalt is a common extrusive volcanic rock. It is usually grey to black and fine-grained due to rapid cooling of lava at the surface of a planet. It may be porphyritic containing larger crystals in a fine matrix, or vesicular, or frothy scoria. Unweathered basalt is black or grey...
stone sculptures and stonecut prints. The community has been home to internationally exhibited artists such as Jessie Oonark
Jessie Oonark
Jessie Oonark, OC was a Canadian Inuit artist who is best known for her wall hangings and her prints.-Biography :...
, Simon Tookoome
Simon Tookoome
Simon Tookoome was an Utkusiksalingmiut Inuk artist. In his youth, Tookoome and other Utkusiksalingmiut lived along the Back River and in Gjoa Haven on King William Island...
, Irene Avaalaaqiaq Tiktaalaaq
Irene Avaalaaqiaq Tiktaalaaq
Irene Avaalaaqiaq Tiktaalaaq is an Inuit artist who was born at Princess Mary Lake near Baker Lake, Nunavut, Canada. She moved to Baker Lake in 1958 to give birth to one of her children....
, Toona Iquliq, Barnabus Arnasungaaq, Marion Tuu'luq, Matthew Agigaaq, David Ikutaq and Luke Anguhadluq.
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
Crown corporations of Canada
Canadian Crown corporations are enterprises owned by the federal government of Canada , one of Canada's provincial governments or one of the territorial governments. Crown corporations have a long standing presence in the country and have been instrumental in the formation of the state...
.
Climate
See also
- David SimailakDavid SimailakDavid Simailak from Baker Lake was the Member of the Legislative Assembly for the electoral district of Baker Lake having won the seat in the 2004 Nunavut election...
- Baker Lake Water AerodromeBaker Lake Water AerodromeBaker Lake Water Aerodrome, , is located at Baker Lake, Nunavut, Canada. The coordinates are for the lake itself, however there is an alternate landing at Airplane Lake which is from the community....
- Inuujarvik Territorial ParkInuujarvik Territorial ParkInuujarvik Territorial Park is a park in Kivalliq Region, Nunavut, Canada. It is located along the shore of Baker Lake.-External links:*...
- Glenn McLeanGlenn McLeanGlenn McLean is a former territorial level politician in Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut from 1999 until 2004....
- William NoahWilliam NoahWilliam Noah is a former territorial level politician and artist. He served as a member of the Northwest Territories Legislature from 1979 until 1982....
- Cosmos 954Cosmos 954Kosmos 954 was a Soviet Radar Ocean Reconnaissance Satellite with an onboard nuclear reactor. The satellite was launched on September 18, 1977 and was designed to track nuclear submarines...