Pangnirtung, Baffin Island #2

This is the second Pangnirtung photo essay - the first is here, in case you missed it.

Hudson's Bay Company (est. 1670) is the oldest commercial corporation in not only Canada, but all of North America. It has a far more interesting history than one might guess if you happened to have shopped in an HBC store lately. It includes not only the establishment of the fur  trade in North America, but also the governing of much of Canada for a time....before the British/Europeans came.

In Pangnirtung, the Hudson's Bay Company has had a post there since 1921, and it is still operational. 

 If you look between the buildings here you can see a wooden platform.  (And of course, don't miss the scenery behind it) 

 Here it is again.....  care to guess what it is used for? It is on a marine railway track system - when the tide is in, it goes out into the water.... and then can be pulled up to the HBC buildings. 

 Here is is again - with some of the bins that are used to store the whale blubber.... the platform, of course, is used to bring whales up for processing. (I think I'm glad he doesn't have pictures of that! Poor whales.) 

Of course, in a fishing/whaling community, boats are very important - and for the most part, these - unlike many other belongings - are very well maintained. 

These boats are built in Quebec and shipped up to Pang.The front half is basically a really big canoe – but the design has been modified to be a very powerful fishing boat.

They’re bigger than they look in this picture, and are used with very powerful  motors.

 More boats... they look beached - but that's temporary ... only until the tide comes in.

This one is used by kids, mostly.... when there's water, of course!  

 Many Pangnirtungians (is that a word?) also have sleds -these would typically be pulled by snowmobiles - which, interestingly enough, Ross says he did not see. Given all the other stuff littering the landscape, you might expect.... but seems they must be all stored away somewhere ... lots of sheds around. 

Back to the HBC ..... here are a couple more pictures from around that area:

 For decades, this canon was fired when boats came in. It signaled the Inuit - most of whom lived & hunted in the fiords around Pang rather than in town to come down to trade. 

 This plaque honours the last man to fire the canon - unfortunately, he neglected to train anyone to take over his job - so the tradition ended when he died in 1984.

  Lots more pictures.....  scenery, clouds & rocks: 

The last 2 shots are of Artic poppies.... he brought me some home - complete with seed pods so that I can try to grow some here next year.