Pangnirtung, often referred to as “Pang,” is an Inuit hamlet located on Baffin Island in the Qikiqtaaluk Region of Nunavut, Canada.

About the Community
Pangnirtung (Inuktitut: Pangniqtuuq / Panniqtuuq) sits on a narrow coastal plain at the head of Pangnirtung Fjord, where it opens into Cumberland Sound on southeastern Baffin Island in the Qikiqtaaluk Region. The community is often nicknamed the “Switzerland of the Arctic” for its steep, alpine scenery and nearby access to Auyuittuq National Park.

History
Inuit and their ancestors have lived in the area for thousands of years. A Hudson’s Bay Company trading post was established in 1921, followed by an RCMP post in 1923, marking sustained European presence in the hamlet.

What the Co-op Provides
Pangnirtung’s Co-op supports daily life in a fly-in Arctic community by providing essentials like groceries and household goods, and by helping sustain local employment and services through the northern Co-op network.

Quick Facts
• Name meaning: “Place of the bull caribou” (Pangniqtuuq/Panniqtuuq)
• Known for: “Switzerland of the Arctic” mountains; gateway to Auyuittuq National Park
• Cultural features: Renowned printmaking, weaving/tapestries, and sculpture traditions

Meanings & Phonetic Spelling
• Co-op Name Phonetic Pronunciation: PANg-NIK-toe
• Full Co-op Name Syllabics: ᐸᓐᓂᖅᑑᕐᒥ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑯᐊᐸᒃᑯᑦ ᑎᒥᖁᑎᖓᑦ
• Primary Indigenous Nation: Inuit
• Community Name Syllabics: ᐸᖕᓂᖅᑑᖅ
• Community Phonetic Pronunciation: PANg-NIK-toe