Our History

Jack Sperry with Inuinait friends, ca.1959

Before there were any permanent buildings at Bathurst Inlet, the area was home to the Kingaunmiut, the "people of Kingaun - 'Nose Mountain'". They lived in igluit in the winter, hunting seals on the sea ice, fishing at the river mouths in spring and fall, and traveling inland in the summer to hunt the caribou at the inland lakes and on the crossing places (nadlok) on the rivers. They constructed stone tent rings, meat caches, fox traps and drying racks, as well as hunting hides (taluit) and inuksuit (stone figures, "in the likeness of a man" which helped them guide the caribou to where they could be killed with spears or arrows. We visit many of the old camps that remain around the inlet, and learn of the daily life of the Inuinait.

Few explorers reached this area -- the first Franklin Expedition (1819-1821) came into Bathurst Inlet in the summer of 1821, traveling by large birchbark canoes, mapping the arctic coast and seeking the Northwest Passage. They were also seeking the local Inuit but found no one; everyone had gone inland for the summer. The journals from this expedition survive, and study of the Franklin journeys is a favourite pursuit for our guests.

In 1929, the Dominion Explorers, the first mining exploration company to use aircraft in their prospecting, came into Bathurst Inlet and established a small camp at the mouth of the Burnside River. They operated this camp for several summers, hiring local people to assist.

HBC Post at Bathurst Inlet, May 1951 Photo by: WM. I. Campbell

In 1936, the Hudson's Bay Company moved their trading post from the Western River area to the Burnside River, utilizing some of the old Dominion Explorers buildings. They built additional buildings that remain today. The main lodge is located in the old post store, and guest rooms occupy a former fur warehouse.

Also in 1936, the Roman Catholic Church opened a mission at Burnside. The little church was built by the priests of the Oblate order, and remains almost unchanged, but is now used for guest lodgings.

The trading post and mission operated until the mid 1960s, served by small ships, including "Our Lady of Lourdes" (now preserved as a monument in Tuktoyaktuk) and barges that came down the Mackenzie River and across the coast.

Glenn Warner

During the 1960s, RCMP Staff Sergeant Glenn Warner patrolled into the Bathurst Inlet area by dogteam and boat from Cambridge Bay. He was struck by the superb natural beauty of the area, and by the gentle kindness of the local people. The little Burnside Mission was being closed, so Glenn and Trish Warner wrote to the R.C. Bishop in Fort Smith, asking if they could buy the church for a summer home. They could and did buy it. A bit later, they formed a partnership and bought the historic Hudson Bay Trading Post, which was also being closed. Bathurst Inlet Lodge opened in the summer of 1969.

Visiting Bathurst Inlet is like stepping forty years back in time; it provides a picture of the arctic as it was, when people lived together in very isolated little communities working hand in hand with the local people. This spirit of fellowship and cooperation still exists at Bathurst Inlet.

Thule tentrings on Quadjuk Island.

Before "ecotourism" became popular, we specialized in observation of the natural world, and in teaching about the proud culture of the local people. In 1984, Inuit residents of Bathurst Inlet joined the Warners as full partners in this innovative venture.

More than 30 years later, Bathurst Inlet Lodge is world famous. Always devoted to interpretation of the arctic world, our program focuses on sharing with our guests knowledge of the natural history and geology of the arctic, the Inuit culture, and the history of the North.

 

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