1. Nunavut

2. This rock statue is called an inuksuk. (in-uk-suk)
Inuit use them as directional markers and landmarks.
“Inuk” means person and “suk” means substitute.
It is meant to symbolize a person pointing travelers in the right direction.

3. In 1999 Nunavut becomes Canada’s official 3rd territory.

4. Nunavut: Land
The Canadian Archipelago (Arctic Archipelago) is the largest in the world. It accounts for most of Nunavut’s size
Nunavut means “our land” in Inuktitut.
It makes up 21.3% of Canada’s total area (largest part of Canada)
It is an Arctic Archipelago (cluster of islands).
Mountainous and rocky

5. Some areas are covered by ice sheets 2 km thick.
Lots of valleys, frozen lakes, and costal fjords, caused by glaciers.
Fjord: A narrow inlet of the sea between cliffs or steep slopes.
Nunavut has very rocky, mountainous terrain

6. The Regions of Nunavut Nunavut has three major regions:
1.Baffin Region
Cities and towns include:
a) Iqaluit
b) Pond Inlet
c) Clyde River
d) Eureka
e) Alert

7. Note: Eureka is located on Ellesmere Island and is primarily used as a military base and satellite/ radio monitoring
Eureka
Note: Alert is the most northern settlement in the world. It has only 5 permanent residents. Alert is also used for military and research.
Alert

8. 2. Keewatin Region:
Cities and Towns Include:
Chesterfield Inlet
Repulse Bay
Rankin Inlet

9. 3. Kitikmeot Region:
Include:
a) Cambridge Bay
b) Bathurst Inlet

10. Purple Saxifrage is Nunavut’s official flower .
It is one of the few plants that will grow in the Canadian north.
Source of food (Inuit)
Sweet tasting flower – (Eat it raw or boil it in water - creates a sweet liquid).

11. Nunavut: Climate Climate is harsh.
Winters are long and cold (-40°C) with strong winds
Summers are short and cool (+/-10°C). Frost in the summer is not uncommon.
No precipitation (Polar desert).

12. Vegetation Very few plants are able to survive (harsh climate).
Tundra vegetation consists:
Small bushes
Patches of grass
Mosses
Lichens
Some flowers
NO trees

13. Population Total area of 1.9 million km2. Approx. 30 000 inhabitants
Iqaluit (capital city) has a little over 6,200 inhabitants.
Over 85% of Nunavut’s population is Inuit.
Quebec has an area of 1.3 million km2 and has almost 8 million people.

14. Government
Premier is the Honourable PETER TAPTUNA (since 2013).

15. Narwhal is a sea animal with a long tusk on it’s face.
+/- 4m-6m in length
Weighs up to 1.6 tons
Live +/- 50 years
Source of food (Inuit)
Tusks - used to make tools & weapons.

16. Language and Education
TODAY
Inuit kids go to public school.
They speak English or French & Inuktitut (Inuit language).
Also trying to protect their culture (like Qc).
PAST
Knowledge was passed down orally from elders to grandchildren; kids did not attend schools

17. Inuit Clothing
Traditional clothing comes from animal skins, intestines or furs.
These parts retained heat and were waterproof
Getting wet/not wearing proper clothing in the arctic is very dangerous...can lead to death.

18. Shelter and Transportation
Traditionally, they lived in skin tents or mud houses (summer) and in igloos
(winter).
Today they live in wooden, permanent houses.

19. Different modes of transportation are either traditional or modern.
Modern: snowmobiles, ATV’s and trucks
Traditional: dog-sled, kayak, and umiaq (row boat)

20. Sources of Food
Inuit diet is made up of meat and fish & edible plants.
Most Inuit will hunt or fish.
Food sources: narwhal, polar bear, seal, caribou, musk ox, and whale.
This diet gives them lots of energy (very important in the North).

21. WEAPONS TODAY Harpoon – Used it to hunt large animals.
PAST
Harpoon – Used it to hunt large animals.
3 main parts: The shaft, head, and rope.
Harpoon head stabs animal & rope is used to pull body towards you.
TODAY
High-powered rifles
Harpoons

22. Inuit Diet
Diet consists mostly of meat - provides them with the energy needed to survive in the Arctic.
Edible plants - purple saxifrage

23. Hunting in Nunavut
Hunting is the main source of acquiring food in Nunavut.
Today the Inuit can buy food in general stores, but most still hunt.

24. Main hunting ground for the Inuit was on pack ice and ice floes.
Inuit hunted larger animals (ex: whales and seals) on sea ice.

25. Inuit hunting weapons:
Harpoon and spear (larger animals)
Bow and arrows, clubs, and knives (smaller animals)
Bolas were used to hunt birds.
A Bola is a small net with bone beads attached to it.

26. Polar Bear hunting It is a traditional food source for the Inuit.
Inuit eat its meat and use its skin to make clothing.
Claws and bones are used to make tools & weapons.

27. In the past:
Used harpoons & bow and arrows to kill polar bears.
Today:
Use high powered rifles.

28. Today, tourists also hunt Polar bears.
American adventure travelers will pay up to $30,000 for the chance to kill a polar bear.
Hunters will keep the skin or head as a trophy(rest of body thrown out).
Gov’t of Canada set yearly quotas (how many polar bears allowed to be hunted).

29. Debate: Polar Bear Hunting
Almost 80% of all Polar Bears killed are in Nunavut.
Each year, the Government of Nunavut sets the quota for the number Polar Bears allowed to be hunted (+/-500)
Experts believe Polar Bears will go on the endangered species list for these 2 reasons:
High hunting quota
Dying from a lack of food due to global warming

30. Seal hunting Seal are killed for their skin, blubber, & meat.
The Inuit use seals for food and use their skin and bones to make clothing and tools.
The Inuit still use clubs, harpoons, and hakapiks to kill them.

31. Seals are hunted for 3 reasons:
Food
Balancing out its population
Make products we buy in stores.
Clothing companies sell seal skin products (Ex: Versace, Gucci, Tommy Hilfiger).

32. Controversy: Seal Hunting
Sealing is mostly done in the Canadian north.
Canadian Gov’t is criticized for allowing sealing to continue.
It sets yearly quotas (a fixed number ) at approximately seals.

33. Canada is also criticized by animal rights groups for allowing sealers to use hakapiks to kill seals.
It is considered a brutal method because seals are beaten to death with these weapons.

34. Canadian Government argues:
Beating is painless
Sealing balances out its population in the North
Sealing is good for our economy ($25 million every year).

35. Greenland Facts 81% of its surface is covered by an ice sheet.
Heavy ice sheet has pushed the surface 300m below sea level.
World’s largest island
Population:

36. What does Greenland & Nunavut have in common?
Large native population (Kalaallisut)
Both natives groups:
Live similar lifestyles
rely on hunting & fishing
Use sea ice & land glaciers to hunt
Both territories have the same climate & vegetation
Ice melt due to GLOBAL WARMING.

37. Global Warming: The Basics
It is a gradual, natural increase in the overall temperature of the earth's atmosphere

38. Greenhouse gases are created by:
Using large amounts of energy
Burning of fossil fuels

39. What is speeding up the process of Global Warming?
Greenhouse Gases
Pollution
Deforestation

40. What are the effects of global warming in Nunavut?
Sea ice for hunting is disappearing.
Marine mammals and animals that use the ice will disappear.
Inuit will loose valuable food sources.
Inuit communities will disappear.

41. Some General effects of Global Warming
Extreme Weather (Hurricane Sandy)
Sea level rise
Flooding or Drought
Loss of drinkable water
Decreased food supplies
Loss of many animal species
Cost for many products (food, electricity, etc.) will increase.