Pangnirtung is an Inuit community on the eastern shore of Cumberland Peninsula on Baffin Island, Nunavut, overlooking the sheltered waters of Pangnirtung Fiord. Steep mountains and rocky slopes rise around the settlement, while the fiord opens toward the larger waters of Cumberland Sound. The community is often called the gateway to Auyuittuq National Park, which lies nearby across dramatic Arctic terrain. Fishing, hunting, arts, and crafts remain important parts of local life, while Pangnirtung also serves as a centre for transportation, government services, and cultural activity in the surrounding region.

Pangnirtung is part of the traditional homeland of the Inuit, whose knowledge of the land and sea continues to shape community life. Hunting, fishing, travel, sewing, carving, and textile production remain closely connected to local traditions. The Uqqurmiut Centre for Arts & Crafts supports Inuit artists and craftspeople, with locally produced tapestries, prints, carvings, and woven goods reflecting the surrounding landscape and Inuit culture. The community's cultural traditions also include the sharing of country foods and knowledge between generations. Inuktitut is the principal language of daily life, reinforcing Pangnirtung's strong Inuit identity.

Pangnirtung's setting provides access to mountains, glaciers, rivers, and fjords, with Auyuittuq National Park reached by boat across Cumberland Sound and Pangnirtung Fiord. The park contains major landmarks such as Mount Asgard, Thor Peak, and Akshayuk Pass, while the Pangnirtung Fiord itself provides opportunities for boating and wildlife viewing. Arctic char are found in local waters, and marine mammals such as seals and narwhals occur in the wider Cumberland Sound region. Hiking around the community offers views across the fiord and surrounding mountains, while winter travel opens routes across snow and sea ice.

Arctic char is an important local food, while country foods such as caribou, seal, and other harvested wildlife form part of traditional Inuit diets. Pangnirtung is particularly known for its textile arts, including woven tapestries produced through the Uqqurmiut Centre, where artists use local landscapes, animals, and stories as subjects. The community's location also creates a distinctive relationship with Cumberland Sound: boats provide access to hunting and fishing areas during the open-water season, while snowmobiles and traditional sled travel can be used when winter conditions allow. This close relationship with seasonal travel remains an important feature of life in Pangnirtung.