A distinctive inland hamlet at the heart of Nunavut, Baker Lake (Qamani’tuaq) is known for wide rivers, caribou country, and vibrant Inuit art.

About the Community
Baker Lake, Qamani’tuaq in Inuktitut, meaning “where the river widens”, is the only inland community in Nunavut. It sits at the mouth of the Thelon River on the shore of Baker Lake, about 320 km inland from Hudson Bay and near Canada’s geographic centre.
The community’s setting on two great rivers (Thelon and Kazan) shapes travel, harvesting, and life on the tundra.

History
The area has long been used as Inuit summer hunting and fishing grounds. A Hudson’s Bay Company trading post was established in 1916, followed by Anglican missionaries in 1927 and an RCMP post in 1930, anchoring the modern settlement. Baker Lake is also known for Inuit land rights history, including the 1979 Baker Lake case, which helped affirm Aboriginal title principles in the North.

What the Co-op Provides
Baker Lake’s Co-op supports everyday life by providing essential groceries, household goods, and practical supplies for an inland Arctic community, while helping sustain local jobs and dependable access to necessities.

Quick Facts
• Inuktitut name meaning: Qamani’tuaq “where the river widens”
• Known for: Nunavut’s only inland hamlet; major Inuit arts centre

Meanings & Phonetic Spelling
• Co-op Name Phonetic Pronunciation: SAH-nah-vik
• Full Co-op Name Syllabics: ᓴᓇᕕᒃ ᑯᐊᐸᒃᑯᑦ ᑎᒥᖁᑎᖓᑦ
• Primary Indigenous Nation: Inuit
• Community Name Syllabics: ᕐᑲᒪᓂᑦᑐᐊᖅ
• Community Phonetic Pronunciation: KAH-mah-knit-two-ah