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Northwest Territories

INTRODUCTION

The Northwest Territories is Canada’s third largest province, though it has one of the lowest populations. Among its many unique features, the Northwest Territories are bordered by six provinces and stretches into the Arctic Ocean by way of several islands. The province claims 11 official languages, more than any other in Canada, even though less than one percent of the nation’s population lives here. This is due to the large ethnic diversity of the region, which plays an equally influential role in its culture.

HISTORY

The history of the Northwest Territories is not as well documented as the rest of Canada, though it is known that several First Nations tribes inhabited the area before the British Empire took control. By the mid 1800s, the Hudson’s Bay Company had extended its trade into the region, and by 1860 had assumed exclusive rights to the commercial opportunities it presented. It became known as the North-Western Territories to distinguish it from neighboring Rupert’s Land.

Through the 1860s, the Canadian provinces were in a state of change, and the borders of the North-Western Territories shrank, losing land to what is now British Columbia. The region would join the Canadian Confederation in 1870. The name was changed to the Northwest Territories.

The provincial government was established in 1872, based out of Fort Livingstone. In an attempt to maintain control over the area, Prime Minister John A Macdonald formed the North-West Mounted Police. The yearly years were consumed with American bootleggers, who were common to the region. By the 1880s the Northwest Territories had adopted public elections.

In the 1890s, large amounts of gold were discovered in the remote regions of northern Canada. The population grew dramatically, and the Klondike Gold Rush was on. The presence of the North-West Mounted Police secured the safety of residents during the gold rush, making it one of the most peaceful in North American history.

The dramatic rise in population led to the creation of the Yukon Territory out of the western half of the Northwest Territories in 1900. More land was lost to Alberta and Saskatchewan by 1905. By 1925, the territory had extended its reach into the Arctic Circle, assuming control of all islands between mainland Canada and Greenland.

Over the next few decades, the population dropped dramatically, and by 1950 less that 20,000 people called the territory home. Census data suggests more than 90% of those residents were of aboriginal descent, but according to provincial law had no voting rights. Tensions ran high and the province came under federal rule. Inuit residents gained the right to vote in 1953.

Over the next 20 years, the Northwest territories would begin to assert its independence and took back some control over governmental issues. A new flag and a unique, polar bear shaped license plate were designed to commemorate the region’s progress. The flag was first flown in 1969.

Towards the end of the 20th century, residents began pushing for further division of the land. In 1999, more than half of the land, including the eastern islands and a large section of the mainland officially became the province of Nunavut, largely influenced by Inuit culture.

The modern Northwest Territories is largely uninhabited, but enjoys a strong economy based on the mining of gold, diamonds and natural gas. Diamonds in particular are gaining popularity as an alternative to diamonds mined in war torn areas which are often sold to finance military action. Northwest Territories diamonds, however, have no such association and are of world class quality. The result of its natural resources is the highest per capita income in Canada, and one of the strongest economies in the world.

 Yellowknife? 
 Hay River? 
 Inuvik? 
 Fort Smith? 
 Behchoko? 
 Tuktoyaktuk? 
 Fort McPherson? 
 Fort Providence? 
 Norman Wells?