We look forward to your visit to Pond Inlet, Nunavut!
Photo Credit: Norman Koonoo
The picturesque hamlet of Pond Inlet, also called ‘Mittimatalik’ in Inuktitut, is a traditional Inuit community located on the northern tip of Baffin Island near the eastern entrance to the Northwest Passage. The hamlet experiences an ever-increasing number of cruise ship visits annually. The interest of the world is appreciated, and we welcome all who wish to visit to learn more about the Inuit side of history, Inuit culture, language, and life in the Baffin Region of Canada. Our community provides many services to cruise ship passengers ranging from guided hamlet tours, community feasts, visits to the community’s Nattinnak Visitor Centre, and local theatrical performances by the renowned Tununiq Arsarniit Theatre Group. The provision of these services involves a great deal of preparation, training, management of staff, and a significant commitment of time and resources. Therefore, our Hamlet Council implemented a standard operating procedure. Cruise Ship Operators must request the Hamlet of Pond Inlet Cruise Ship Services Policy and Procedures document from Pond Inlet’s Director of Finance via email at finance@pondinlet.ca. The document details Pond Inlet’s Cruise Ship Service Rates, Landing Requests and Approval, Service Fees, and Cancellation Policy.
Cruise Ship passengers who visit our remote community will experience Pond Inlet’s renowned Arctic scenery, a thriving Inuit culture, and, if fortunate, might even spot birds, wild animals, or marine mammals. Guests will learn about the heritage of our Inuit people and the historical significance of Pond Inlet in the early exploration of the Northwest Passage.
While in Pond Inlet, visitors are asked to respect our local beliefs, customs, traditions, environment, and requests for conduct. Visitors can show respect by learning about our local culture before travelling to our remote community so they know what to expect. We also ask that visitors not disturb residents by knocking on their doors or peering through house windows for a look inside their homes. Locals enjoy having their photograph taken but please ask for permission before doing so, particularly when taking photographs of children. For everyone’s safety, visitors must respect the rules of the road and walk on designated roadways and pathways and not through resident’s private property.
Click on this Cruise Tour Itinerary link for a description of the tour package Cruise Ship Passengers may expect while visiting Pond Inlet.
Disclaimer: Cultural performances and demonstrations and souvenirs are subject to availability. Our local people continue to practice their cultural ways which may not align with the cruise ships schedule.
Community Highlights
Nattinnak Visitor’s Centre
The museum has a very high-quality interpretative presentation of the culture and history of the Thule and Tuniit people who arrived in the eastern Arctic about 1,000 years ago and historical artifacts for tourists to look at. The Rebecca P. Idlout Library contains a collection of books about Nunavut and the Northwest Passage for purchase.
Arts and Crafts Sales
The centre also houses a retail collection of Inuit art, carvings, and wall hangings, etc. Tourists can purchase souvenirs and little trinkets made by local artists.
Cultural Performances
Inuit cultural show: performers in customary dress will enchant guests with a traditional performance of drum dancing, throat singing, and Elder storytelling.
Guests will be impressed by the agility and strength exhibited in the Inuit Arctic sports demonstration. These traditional games were used to build strength and agility required to hunt and survive. Tourists may even be invited to join in some of the games.
Tours
Guided walking tour. Tour guides will escort groups of passengers on a walk through the Hamlet to visit designated buildings and the schools, meet friendly locals, and hear about some of the unique challenges of life in the North.
Carving/Sewing Demonstration
Passengers may be able to visit a number of local soapstone carvers and seamstresses who will demonstrate skills learned from their ancestors. Artists may sell their work.
Cooking Demonstration
Passengers may be able to photograph local residents outside a tent set up like a traditional on the land campsite demonstrating how to use traditional cooking tools, e.g. ulu (woman’s knife) and a qulliq (seal oil burner) or cooking outside over an open fire. Guests might witness the cooking of bannock and/or fish.
Traditional Tools Demonstration
Passengers may be able to view a showcase of traditional Inuit tools: Kakivak (fish spear), Niksik (seal hook), scrapers for seal skins, Agvik (table for skinning seals), seal frame (for drying seal skins), Anu (dog harness), Aaqsuq (rope making from bearded seal). Demonstrations may include a local hunter butchering/processing a seal and local woman skinning a seal.
Traditional Clothing Demonstration
Passengers may be able to view a showcase of traditional clothing, hats, mitts, and boots sewn from furs and fabric. A local fashion show would give tourists a wonderful photo opportunity with some of our people wearing their handmade clothing.
Country Food
Visitors may be invited to enjoy a cup of tea and bannock or sample other local traditional Inuit Country Foods – Arctic Char, boiled seal meat, maktaaq/narwhal, pissi (dried fish).
