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Nunavut

INTRODUCTION

Nunavut, the largest of Canada’s provinces and territories, is also the newest. It has the second lowest population, supported by the lowest economy in the country. Four official languages reflect a diverse cultural heritage, with less than 15% of the population being of non-aboriginal descent.

HISTORY

Evidence of human habitation of Nunavut dates back more than 4,000 years. There is strong evidence of Inuit culture, and some evidence of the Dorset culture predating them.

Nunavut may have been visited by Vikings when Leif Ericson landed in Atlantic Canada around 1000 AD.

European visitors explored the region in the 1500s. The first records of exploration date to the 1570s, detailing contact with Inuit tribes. By the 17th century, Britain laid claim to the islands off the north coast, forming the British Arctic Territories.

The main land became part of the North-Western Territory, established as part of British North America in The late 18th century. The land was transferred to Canada in 1870, becoming the Northwest Territories. Control over the islands was transferred to Canada in the 1880s.

The Adult Vocational Training Centre was founded in 1968, becoming the Nunavut Arctic College upon formation of the territory in 1999.

Over the 20th century, movement to separate grew. In the mid-1970s, the Inuit residents banded together to preserve and promote their unique cultural heritage. A magazine of Inuit culture was established, and an agreement was struck with the federal government. The Inuit Broadcasting Corporation was founded in the mid 1970s, in response to the growth of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s efforts to broadcast to all regions of the country, further supporting the preservation of Inuit culture.

By the early 1990s, more than 80% of voters supported aboriginal land claims, leading to the division of the Northwest Territories. Between 1993 and 1999, several acts were passed by the Canadian Parliament, establishing the territory of Nunavut out of more than half of the total land.

Modern Nunavut sees little tourism, largely because of the difficult terrain and sparse population. The territory is supported largely by several mines, producing gold, nickel and copper, lead and zinc, and diamonds. Nunavut diamonds are growing in popularity, as an alternative to diamonds mined in or financing war torn regions, and provides considerable income. The Jericho Diamond Mine alone produces more than $25 million of the territories 1.2 billion dollar gross domestic product.

 Iqaluit? 
 Rankin Inlet? 
 Arviat? 
 Arviat? 
 Igloolik? 
 Pangnirtung? 
 Pond Inlet? 
 Kugluktuk? 
 Cape Dorset?