Nunavut Google Map, Canada

Nunavut, the newest and largest territory of Canada is an extensive piece of land situated north of its fellow territory of Manitoba. Created on April 1st, 1999, after the passage of the Nunavut Act and the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement, this area split off from the Northwest Territories with the main purpose of allowing the Inuit people of the region more self-governance and acknowledgment. Nunavut occupies an area of about 2 million square kilometers and it is the largest territory of Canada as per its geographical coverage; having a number of natural attractions that include mountains, huge frozen fields, and unique culture. Nunavut in its meaning as ‘Our Land’ in Inuktitut symbolizes the Inuit’s belonging to this part of the world enthusiastically.

History:

Nunavut has a rather long history and, in fact, it is the youngest territory in Canada but it is very diverse nevertheless. The Inuit people of this area have lived there for over 4 millennia and have their status as the native people of this area. They are descendants of the Thule people, which are considered to have migrated from Alaska around 1000 A.D. These people who occupied early Canada had proven their ability to live within the cold region, along with their capability of hunting and fishing, and their capacity to construct igloos.

Exploration of this region now known as Nunavut began with Europeans in the 16th century. European people first settled in this region in the year 1576 by Martin Frobisher, an English explorer who was in search of the Northwest Passage. Exploring the area even further, subsequent explorations were conducted by Henry Hudson, William Baffin, and Robert Bylot all of whom played a part in charting the Arctic. But it was in the nineteenth century when there was consistent interaction between the Inuit and the Europeans, largely through whaling and trading.

The development, and transformation of Nunavut occurred mostly in the twentieth century. In 1953, under the Eskimo Welfare Act, the Canadian government started to move Inuit families into larger and more concentrated settlements which although for socio-economic reasons had harshly intruded on traditional ways of life. In the next few decades, the Inuit started to demand their rights and focus on the authority over the land and minerals. This led to the signing of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement in 1993, and thus the formation of the Nunavut territory in the year 1999. A milestone was made with the formation of Nunavut, moving towards enhancing the aspect of Inuit self-government and culture.

Culture:

Nunavut has a rich cultural background of the Inuit people as a traditional and cultural community of the country. The main component of Inuit culture is a dependence on the land, sea, and ice as these are their resource. Hunting, fishing, and producing artifacts for their use came as techniques of survival but also as cultural practices that are normally inherited from previous generations.

In fact, one of the most famous features of Inuit people is their art. Inuit art encompasses many shapes, although the most popular forms are sculptures and carvings, prints, and textiles. Especially popular are soapstone carvings of animals, spirits, and scenes of everyday life. Most of these artworks depict religious perspectives of the Inuit people and these strongly revolve around the natural existence and supernatural realms.

Speaking of dance and music, both are also parts of the Inuit culture as well. Katajjaq, or vocal singing, is an Inuit vocal art that is normally performed by female singers. This practice entails two singers making rhythmical mumble of the tongue imitating some natural sounds. Another couple of cultural activities include traditional drum dances and storytelling in which Inuit people pass down their culture.

The latter is illustrated by the Alianait Arts Festival held in Iqaluit annually, where people represent the culture of Nunavut. These events offer a platform to facilitate art performances and allow artists, musicians, and performers to embrace their culture. Second, food sharing known today as ‘’community feasts’ is part of the Inuit cultural identity and practices to this date.

Language:

Influenced by the culture, the language that is spoken most primarily in Nunavut is Inuktitut which is part of the Eskimo-Aleut language family. Inuktitut has many dialects because of the different areas occupied by the indigenous people in that region. It is the first language of the vast majority of the Inuit people and is one of the official languages of Nunavut together with English and French. It is used in daily, educational, and governmental languages to maintain and enhance its usage.

Intensive measures to propagate and restore the Inuit language used in daily communication are being taken. Certain organizations of the territorial government have already adopted language policies that require the usage of Inuktitut in schools and within public services. Also, today there are many organizations and programs for example the Inuit Uqausinginnik Taiguusiliuqtiit (Inuit Language Authority) which specializes in creating new words and new materials for the modern world. Efforts to keep the language alive are very much supported by media such as radio stations, television programs, and publications that include Inuktitut.

In the Inuit’s case, language is not only an instrument of oral communication; it is an essential component of cultural and ethnic experience. It also provides the information and beliefs of the Inuit culture. For instance, the language demonstrates excellent lexical resources in light of the reference to the natural environment most especially sea ice, showing the Inuit's profound knowledge of their surroundings.

Geography:

The region comprises large and extensive territories of islands, tundras, mountains, and coastlines. The climate of Nunavut is mainly cold with very cold winter seasons. The Nunavut territory is very large and climatically diverse and is divided into three regions which are Baffin or Qikiqtaaluk, Keewatin or Kivalliq, and Kitikmeot. Every region has its own climate and cultural landmarks.

The Qikiqtaaluk region or the Baffin Region comprises the largest part of Baffin Island as well as several minor islands. This area is famous for the Gigantic fjords, glaciers, and ice caps that encompass this part of the world. The region contains the capital of Nunavut, Iqaluit, located at the head of Frobisher Bay. The Qikiqtaaluk region also has the Auyuittuq National Park – a vast unspoiled area that draws a lot of visitors who want to hike, trek, and sightsee.

The Kivalliq region is in central Nunavut; this region comprises the tundra and many lakes. Rankin Inlet, which is one of the largest settlements in this area, has always been the center of transportation and services for this community. Kivalliq region offers a whole lot of wildlife such as caribou, arctic foxes, and some of the migratory birds. The occurrence of these animals has conventionally been a way that the Inuit societies exist by hunting and trapping.

The Kitikmeot region is in the western region of Nunavut incorporating parts of the mainland and other Arctic islands. This area has features such as mountains, rivers, and coastal features hence it is characterized by large rough geographical features. Of these, Cambridge Bay stands out as the largest community along with being a cultural as well as economic hub. Also, there are still important archaeological preservation areas in the Kitikmeot region giving information about the Thule and pre-Thule peoples.

The climate of Nunavut is mostly Arctic-like, with extremely cold winters and comparatively short and cool summers. The condition has disadvantaged the region both in the geological features and the lifestyles of the people that live in that region. However, life in Nunavut has adapted to survive in such conditions including the wildlife which is quite diverse and includes polar bears, walruses, narwals, seabirds, and many others. The region has endowed the tourists with natural resources such as beautiful sceneries, and wildlife attractions that increase tourism.

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