2. Arctic Canada & Nunavut A Journey to the North

3. Introduction Aboriginal peoples have sustained themselves in the Arctic for thousands of years. Because of the Arctic Climate: –No agriculture –Few non-native inhabitants –Land remains home to indigenous peoples

4. Physical Overview North of the 60 th Parallel Arctic Climate –Permafrost –Short Summers –Frigid Winters –Few plants and animal species A “Neglected Landscape”

5. The Inuit People Historically relied upon fish, seal, whale, walrus, caribou, and muskox for subsistence Linear settlement patterns along coastlines Extensive hunting territories

6. The Inuit Important Innovations: –Kayaks, harpoons, dog sleds, igloos, oil lamps

7. Nunavut: “Our Land” The inuksuk symbolizes stone monuments which guide people on the land and mark sacred and other special places.

8. Nunavut

9. Nunavut: Fact Sheet Created April 1, 1999 as a result of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement. Was once a part of the NW Territories 2 million sq km/ 1.2 million sq mi Total population of 30,000 Capital at Iqaluit (pop. 6000)

10. Iqaluit, Nunavut

11. The People of Nunavut 30,782 people/.0156 p/sq km Median Age: 22.1 years 85% Inuit 4 Languages: Inuktitut, Inuinnaqtun, English, and French

12. The Government of Nunavut Public government, elected by residents. Legislative Assembly elects a Premier (Paul Okalik) Gov’t incorporates aboriginal values: –Maximum cooperation –Effective use of resources –Common Accountability

13. Bathurst Mandate Values and Priorities that guide governmental procedures. –Healthy Communities –Simplicity and Unity –Self-Reliance –Continuing Learning

14. Nunavut: A Virtual Tour You will be assigned, in groups, an aspect of Nunavut to research online. Following your research, construct a pamphlet that outlines your findings. Be sure that all contribute to this assignment!!