Inuit throat chant

Nunavut
April 1, 1999
Canada's newest Territory




After treaty talks since 1992 with the Inuits, April 1, 1999 marked a historic event in Canada. The Northwest Territories was divided into two territories. The eastern territory is named "Nunavut" (noo-na-voot), an Inuktitut word which means "our land".
The new Nunavut Territory is home to and will be self-governed by the Inuit ­ a remarkable people who are keepers of an ancient culture that stretches back thousands of years. In size, Nunavut encompasses about one fifth of the land mass of Canada. It is a land of incredible diversity, vast wildlife and unforgettable beauty. It is one of the last great unspoiled wilderness habitats on earth and well worth discovering.
Iqaluit is the largest community and capital in Nunavut. It has a population of 3,600 and is located approximately 2,000 kilometres from Ottawa. The mean temperature in January is -30°C and in July is 15°C. Iqaluit experiences 24 hours of daylight per day in June, and six hours per day in December.
Grise Fiord is the northernmost community in Nunavut. It has a population of 130 people and is located approximately 2,700 kilometres from Ottawa. The mean temperature in January is -35°C and in July is 10°C. Grise Fiord experiences 24 hours of daylight per day in June, and round-the-clock darkness in December.
Nunavut is expected to foster the economy of shrimp fishing, hotels and trucking. The Nunavut Territory also has developmental possibilities in gold, silver, zinc, lead and diamond mining.


Nunavit Statistics:

Area of Nunavut 1,900,000 sq km (Canada - 9,970,610 sq km)
Population of Nunavut: Approximately 22,000 (Canada - 30,000,000)
Inuit Population of Nunavut: Approximately 17,500(Canada - 25,000)
Languages spoken: Inuktitut , Inuinnaqtun, English
Inuktitut:
I want to go by dogteam
Qimuksikkuurumavunga (kim-mook-sick-koo-koo-roo-mah-0voon-ga)

Inuit Legend:
I was born to die,
shall live
that the world of animals
and the world of man
may come together.
I shall live.



capital
Capital Iqaluit		food
smoked salmon		hike
Nunavut mountains
dogs
Dogsled Team		 floe
ice floe
Inuit Stop Sign
hunters
Inuksuit & hunters		 mountains
Nunavut scenery		village
Village Pangnirtung
art
Inuit lithograph		art
Inuit soapstone carving		mask
Inuit mask carving


Nunavut Tourism
Language of the Inuit People

For further information contact:
Mail



Back to index