NUNAVUT

Confederation date: April 1, 1999

Population:  28,700 (2003)

License plate: Explore the Arctic

Capital:  Iqaluit

On April 1, 1999 all of Canada paid tribute to the Inuit, officially and legally becoming the country's third territory!

Nunavut is pronounced as "noo-na-voot".  In the language of its aboriginal people, the Inuit,  the word means "our land".


The Inuit make up 85% of the total population of Nunavut.

Life expentancy in 1999: 68.9 years.

Total area: 2,093,190 sqare kilometers; Land area is 1,936,113 square kilometers. Length of coastline is 114,920 square kilometers.

The general climate in Nunavut are extreme temperatures and low precipitations; basically arctic temperatures :>

Topography -- you can find rocky tundra with rather stunted vegetation located above the tree line -- it's also snow covered most of the year.

Nunavut's main industries are mining, tourism, scallop and shrimp fishing, hunting and trapping, arts and crafts production.

National Parks

Auyuittuq, Quttinirpaaq (Ellesmere Island), Sirmilik

Territory's Motto

NUNAVUT SANGINIVUT - Nunavut our strength.

Territory's Symbols

Bird:  Rock ptarmigan
Animal: Canadian Inuit dog


Oops!

When Nunavut became a part of Canada on April 1, 1999, the new government was of interest to people across the country . A typo that had been missed by proofreaders was found and the law amended. So for a short time, a bylaw observed that "Any applicant to the fire department must have a history of mental illness."



Food

Arctic char is a fish and one of the most popular items on the menus in Nunavut.   You will also find Caribou, which is nutritious and low in fat!  

If calories aren't your concern, you might want to try maktaaq -- that's the outer layer of skin from beluga and narwhal whales.  It's a delicacy served raw, but the fact that it is high caloric is the reason the Inuit like it so much -- it keeps them warm!


Speak


Inuit means "the people" in Inukitut.

"Eskimo" is a Cree Indian word that translates to "eaters of raw meat" in English.   Considered an insult, it is not used in Canada anymore.

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Page last updated on February 5, 2007