Kinngait

Kinngait is an Inuit hamlet on Dorset Island near the southern tip of Baffin Island, with buildings distributed along the shoreline. The settlement is small and compact, with simple structures built to withstand the harsh Arctic environment.

The Hudson's Bay Company established a trading post here in 1913, enabling exchange of local furs for goods from outside. This early trading connection shaped how the settlement developed and connected to the wider region.

Kinngait Studios serves as a working center where drawing, printmaking, and carving happen daily, reflecting how art is woven into daily life here. Visitors can observe artists engaged in their craft and see how creative practice connects to the community.

Cape Dorset Airport provides the main connection to other Nunavut communities, with cars, trucks, and snowmobiles serving as year-round transportation options locally. Visitors should prepare for extreme weather and limited facilities when planning a trip here.

Between 1959 and 1974, artists here produced more than 48,000 prints, transforming the place into a major center of Inuit art production. This burst of creative output over a relatively short period remains remarkable and continues to shape its reputation worldwide.

Location: Nunavut

Inception: 1913

Elevation above the sea: 50 m

Website: http://capedorset.ca/en

GPS coordinates: 64.23333,-76.54167

Latest update: December 10, 2025 16:03