{"id":3894,"date":"2019-12-26T04:00:42","date_gmt":"2019-12-26T04:00:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/?p=3894"},"modified":"2019-10-16T19:36:59","modified_gmt":"2019-10-16T19:36:59","slug":"nunavut","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/nunavut\/","title":{"rendered":"Nunavut"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction:<\/h2>\n

Nunavut<\/a> is the newest, largest, and most northerly territory of Canada. It was separated officially from the Northwest Territories<\/a> on April 1, 1999, via the Nunavut Act and the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act<\/a>, though the boundaries had been drawn in 1993. The creation of Nunavut resulted in the first major change to Canada’s political map since incorporating the province of Newfoundland<\/a> in 1949.<\/p>\n

Nunavut comprises a major portion of Northern Canada<\/a>, and most of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago<\/a>. Its vast territory makes it the fifth-largest country subdivision in the world, as well as North America’s second-largest (after Greenland<\/a>). The capital Iqaluit<\/a> (formerly “Frobisher Bay”), on Baffin Island<\/a> in the east, was chosen by the 1995 capital plebiscite<\/a>. Other major communities include the regional centers of Rankin Inlet<\/a> and Cambridge Bay.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Iqaluit<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Nunavut also includes Ellesmere Island<\/a> to the far north, as well as the eastern and southern portions of Victoria Island<\/a> in the west, and all islands in Hudson<\/a>, James<\/a> and Ungava Bays<\/a>, including Akimiski Island<\/a> far to the southeast of the rest of the territory. It is Canada’s only geo-political region that is not connected to the rest of North America by highway.<\/p>\n

Nunavut is the largest in area and the second-least populous of Canada’s provinces and territories. One of the world’s most remote, sparsely settled regions, it has a population of 35,944, mostly Inuit, spread over a land area of just over 1,877,787 km2, or slightly smaller than Mexico (excluding water surface area). Nunavut is also home to the world’s northernmost permanently inhabited place, Alert<\/a>. Eureka<\/a>, a weather station also on Ellesmere Island, has the lowest average annual temperature of any Canadian weather station.<\/p>\n

Etymology:<\/h2>\n

Nunavut means “our land” in the native language Inuktitut<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Geography:<\/h2>\n

Nunavut covers 1,877,787 km2 of land and 160,930 km2 of water in Northern Canada. The territory includes part of the mainland, most of the Arctic Archipelago, and all of the islands in Hudson Bay, James Bay, and Ungava Bay, including the Belcher Islands<\/a>, all of which belonged to the Northwest Territories from which Nunavut was separated. This makes it the fifth-largest subnational entity (or administrative division) in the world. If Nunavut were a country, it would rank 15th in area.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Nunavut in Canada<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Nunavut has long land borders with the Northwest Territories on the mainland and a few Arctic islands, and with Manitoba<\/a> to the south of the Nunavut mainland; it also meets Saskatchewan<\/a> to the southwest at a quadripoint). Through its small satellite territories in the southeast, it has short land borders with Newfoundland and Labrador on Killiniq Island<\/a>, with Ontario<\/a> in two locations in James Bay \u2013 the larger located west of Akimiski Island, and the smaller around the Albany River<\/a> near Fafard Island<\/a> \u2013 and with Quebec in many locations, such as near Eastmain<\/a> and near Inukjuak<\/a>. It also shares maritime borders with Greenland.<\/p>\n

Nunavut’s highest point is Barbeau Peak<\/a> (2,616 m) on Ellesmere Island. The population density is 0.019 persons\/km2, one of the lowest in the world. By comparison, Greenland has approximately the same area and nearly twice the population.<\/p>\n

History:<\/h2>\n

Early History:<\/h3>\n

The region now known as Nunavut has supported a continuous indigenous population for approximately 4,000 years. Most historians identify the coast of Baffin Island with the Helluland<\/a> described in Norse sagas, so it is possible that the inhabitants of the region had occasional contact with Norse sailors.<\/p>\n

In September 2008, researchers reported on the evaluation of existing and newly excavated archaeological remains, including yarn spun from a hare, rats, tally sticks, a carved wooden face mask that depicts Caucasian features, and possible architectural material. The materials were collected in five seasons of excavation at Cape Tanfield<\/a>. Scholars determined that these provide evidence of European traders and possibly settlers on Baffin Island, not later than 1000 CE (and thus older than or contemporaneous with L’Anse aux Meadows<\/a>). They seem to indicate prolonged contact, possibly up to 1450. The origin of the Old World contact is unclear; the article states: “Dating of some yarn and other artifacts, presumed to be left by Vikings on Baffin Island, have produced an age that predates the Vikings<\/a> by several hundred years. So … you have to consider the possibility that as remote as it may seem, these finds may represent evidence of contact with Europeans prior to the Vikings’ arrival in Greenland.”<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
James Ross Expedition 1835<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The written historical accounts of Nunavut begin in 1576, with an account by English explorer Martin Frobisher<\/a>. While leading an expedition to find the Northwest Passage<\/a>, Frobisher thought he had discovered gold ore around the body of water now known as Frobisher Bay<\/a> on the coast of Baffin Island. The ore turned out to be worthless, but Frobisher made the first recorded European contact with the Inuit<\/a>. Other explorers in search of the elusive Northwest Passage followed in the 17th century, including Henry Hudson<\/a>, William Baffin<\/a> and Robert Bylot<\/a>.<\/p>\n

20th and 21st Centuries:<\/h3>\n

Cornwallis<\/a> and Ellesmere Islands featured in the history of the Cold War<\/a> in the 1950s. Concerned about the area’s strategic geopolitical position, the federal government relocated Inuit from Nunavik<\/a> (northern Quebec) to Resolute<\/a> and Grise Fiord<\/a>. In the unfamiliar and hostile conditions, they faced starvation but were forced to stay. Forty years later, the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples<\/a> issued a report titled The High Arctic Relocation: A Report on the 1953\u201355 Relocation. The government paid compensation to those affected and their descendants and on August 18, 2010, in Inukjuak<\/a>, the Honourable John Duncan, PC, MP<\/a>, previous Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development<\/a> and Federal Interlocutor for M\u00e9tis and Non-Status Indians<\/a> apologized on behalf of the Government of Canada for the relocation of Inuit to the High Arctic<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Forced Relocation of Inuit in 1950s<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Discussions on dividing the Northwest Territories along ethnic lines began in the 1950s, and legislation to do this was introduced in 1963. After its failure, a federal commission recommended against such a measure. In 1976, as part of the land claims negotiations between the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami<\/a> (then called the “Inuit Tapirisat of Canada”) and the federal government, the parties discussed division of the Northwest Territories to provide a separate territory for the Inuit. On April 14, 1982, a plebiscite on division<\/a> was held throughout the Northwest Territories. A majority of the residents voted in favor and the federal government<\/a> gave a conditional agreement seven months later.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Ceremony Marking Establishment of Nunavut<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The land claims agreement was completed in September 1992 and ratified by nearly 85% of the voters in Nunavut in a referendum<\/a>. On July 9, 1993, the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act and the Nunavut Act were passed by the Canadian Parliament<\/a>. The transition to establish Nunavut Territory was completed on April 1, 1999. The creation of Nunavut has been followed by considerable population growth in the capital Iqaluit, from 5,200 in 2001 to 6,600 in 2011, a 27% increase.<\/p>\n

Economy:<\/h2>\n

The economy of Nunavut is driven by the Inuit and Territorial Government, mining, oil and gas exploration, arts and crafts, hunting, fishing, whaling, tourism, transportation, housing development, military, research, and education. Presently, one college operates in Nunavut, the Nunavut Arctic College<\/a>, as well as several Arctic research stations<\/a> located within the territory. The new Canadian High Arctic Research Station CHARS<\/a> in planning for Cambridge Bay and high north Alert Bay Station.<\/p>\n

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CHARS Research Station<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Iqaluit hosts the annual Nunavut Mining Symposium<\/a> every April, this is a trade-show that showcases many economic activities on going in Nunavut.<\/p>\n

There are currently three major mines in operation in Nunavut. Agnico-Eagle Mines Ltd<\/a> \u2013 Meadowbank Division. Meadowbank Gold Mine<\/a> is an open pit gold mine with an estimated mine life 2010\u20132020 and employs 680 persons.<\/p>\n

The second recently opened mine in production is the Mary River Iron Ore mine<\/a> operated by Baffinland Iron Mines<\/a>. It is located close to Pond Inlet on North Baffin Island. They produce a high grade direct ship iron ore.<\/p>\n

The Hope Bay gold mine<\/a> is one of the major mines in the territory.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Hope Bay Gold Mine<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The most recent mine to open is Doris North or the Hope Bay Mine operated near Hope Bay Aerodrome<\/a> by TMAC Resources Ltd. This new high grade gold mine is the first in a series of potential mines in gold occurrences all along the Hope Bay green-stone belt<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Transportation:<\/h2>\n

There are no road or rail connections to the rest of Canada or anywhere else in Nunavut so all transportation needs are met by local airlines that specialize in Arctic transportation<\/a>. These flights are frequently heavily sold despite being astronomically expensive compared to other coach class airfares in the rest of the world. Early planning and booking is essential.<\/p>\n

Flag of Nunavut:<\/h2>\n

The official flag of Nunavut was proclaimed on 1 April 1999, along with the territory of Nunavut in Canada. It features a red inuksuk<\/a>\u2014a traditional Inuit land marker\u2014and a blue star, which represents the Niqirtsuituq, the North Star<\/a>, and the leadership of elders in the community. The colors blue and yellow represent the riches of the land, sea and sky. It was adopted following a process where input was sought from local communities and submissions were solicited from the Canadian public.<\/p>\n

The flag of the Canadian territory of Nunavut consists of gold and white fields divided vertically by a red inuksuk with a blue star in the upper fly. The colors blue and gold were selected to represent the “riches of land, sea, and sky”, while red is used to represent Canada as a whole. The inuksuk, which divides the flag, is a traditional stone monument used to guide travelers and to mark sacred sites. In the upper fly, the blue star represents the North Star (Niqirtsituk), an important object due to its key role as a navigational beacon, and as symbolically representing the wisdom and leadership of community elders.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Flag of Nunavut<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The process of creating a flag for Nunavut began prior to its creation as a territory in 1999. This created significant excitement in the vexillographic community, as it was the first change in the map of Canada since Newfoundland<\/a> became a province in 1949 and was being created in a region with little flag history. In deference to the elders of the Inuit communities of Nunavut, the development of both the Nunavut flag and coat of arms was guided by their input. The process sought to give the public an opportunity to offer input into the colors and symbolism of the flag as well as to give local artists an opportunity to participate. Led by the Chief Herald of Canada<\/a>, a group developing the flag visited a number of communities to seek input and learn about local culture, including Rankin Inlet<\/a>, Baker Lake<\/a>, Cape Dorset<\/a>, Iqaluit<\/a>, and Pangnirtung<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The group then put out a call for submissions across all of Canada, and received over 800. These submissions were reviewed and winnowed by a committee made up of artists and local elders who chose ten finalists. From the symbols and colours of these ten finalists, five draft designs of the flag were developed. They were assisted in drafting these by local Inuit artist Andrew Qappik<\/a>. The final version of the flag was reviewed and accepted by the commission responsible for its adoption as well as the Governor General of Canada<\/a> and Queen Elizabeth II<\/a>. It was officially unveiled on 1 April 1999, the day when both the territory and government of Nunavut became official.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The flag of the Canadian territory of Nunavut consists of gold and white fields divided vertically by a red inuksuk with a blue star in the upper fly. The colours blue and gold were selected to represent the “riches of land, sea, and sky”, while red is used to represent Canada as a whole. The inuksuk, which divides the flag, is a traditional stone monument used to guide travellers and to mark sacred sites. In the upper fly, the blue star represents the North Star (Niqirtsituk), an important object due to its key role as a navigational beacon, and as symbolically representing the wisdom and leadership of community elders.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3982,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[80,83,5,6,7,41],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3894"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3894"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3894\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3982"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3894"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3894"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3894"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}