Nunavut--Canada's Newest Territory
However, the reality of the White Paper was to force the assimilation of aboriginal peoples and abrogate the Canadian government's responsibility toward them.
Native Americans immediately rejected the paper as opposed to aboriginal rights and interests, and a government attempt to escape its treaty obligations.
Instead, the paper generated a renewed sense of nativism, cultural reaffirmation, and political activism that culminated on April 1, 1999 when the territory of Nunavut officially split from the Northwest territory and restored to the Inuit their traditional homeland,giving them as much self rule and political independence as is probably possible in today's modern, global world.
The area encompassing Nunavut has been homeland to the Inuit for over 4,000 years. Seventeen thousand, five hundred of Canada's 25,000 Inuit live there. Nunavut covers 1.9 million square km, approximately one-fifth the total area of Canada, bordered by the Northwest Territories to the west, the provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan to the south, and Baffin Bay and the Labrador Sea to the east. The territory contains the former Keewatin and Franklin districts of the Northwest Territories, includes Baffin Island and seven of Canada's twelve largest islands, two thirds of its coastline, and stretches almost to the North Pole. Most of the territory is flat tundra, snow covered most of the year, above the tree line with stunted vegetation of lichen and grasses. Wildlife includes white fox, caribou, seals, and a wide assortment of birds during the summer. The prominent fish are Whitefish and Arctic char.
Nunavut has a harsh, desert climate, with less than 10 inches of precipitation per year, mostly as snow. Temperatures average -32°C (-25°F) in January and 5°C (41°F) in July. Winter lasts nine months.
The total population is about 22,000--not enough to fill a small sports arena--only 0.01 person per square kilometer.
Iqaluit is the largest community in Nunavut, with a population of 3,600, located approximately 2,000 kilometers from Ottawa.
The northernmost community in Nunavut is Grise Fiord. It has a population of 130 people. Grise Fiord experiences 24 hours of daylight per day in June, and round-the-clock darkness in December.
Although Nunavut is a public government, open to and representing all of its residents, because the Inuits comprise 85 per cent of the population it is effectively self governed by the Inuit, reflecting their culture and heritage. The official government language of Nunavut is Inukitut, the Inuit language, although government services will also be available in French and English Nunavut itself is an Inuit word meaning "our land".
The new government will administer an area that covers approximately 20% of Canada, with powers equivalent to those of existing territorial governments. An elected Legislative Assembly, a Cabinet and a territorial court will be the primary institutions of public government.
The Government of Nunavut has begun to assume responsibilities once exercised by the Government of the Northwest Territories. By 2009 Nunavut should have powers and responsibilities equivalent to Canada's other territorial governments.
Although a division of the huge northwestern territory has generally been regarded as inevitable and legislation actually introduced to divide it as early as 1963, the push toward Nunavut as a territory under Inuit self rule began in earnest in 1973 when the Canadian government established its first Comprehensive Land Claims Policy. The aim of the policy was to clearly define Aboriginal rights and benefits in a land claim settlement. That same year, the Inuit Tapirisat of Canada (ITC), the national political organization representing Inuit, began a study of Inuit land use and occupancy that showed the extent of Inuit Aboriginal title in the Arctic.
In 1976 the ITC called for the creation of a Nunavut territory as part of a comprehensive land settlement with the Inuit. The following year the Northwest Territory Inuit Lands Commission proposed that a new territory, similar to Nunavut, be established with a government consistent with Inuit political designs.
In 1979 a second seat for the Northwest Territories was created in Canada's House of Commons, with the new parliamentary seat, called Nunatsiaq, encompassing approximately the same territory as Nunavut.
Territorial and federal governments, along with the Inuit people agreed in principle in 1990 that the creation of the territory Nunavut happen "as soon as possible", and in 1993 the Nunavut Final Land Claim Agreement is signed by the Inuit, the Government of Canada, and the Government of the Northwest Territories. The Act gave the Inuit control of 350,000 square kilometers of land, including mineral rights on 36,000 square kilometers, and guaranteed their participation in decisions concerning land and resource management. It also granted the Inuit $1 billion over 14 years, and provided for the establishment of the Inuit Heritage Trust to regulate the activities of archaeologists in Nunavut. Archaeological excavation's removal of Inuit artifacts, including bones, to museums and universities had been a serious affront and to Inuit. The trust also works to preserve Inuit oral history and culture.
On April 1, 1999 Nunavut and its new government were inaugurated, and the Nunavut coat of arms and flag were unveiled.
The government of Nunavut intends to incorporate the best of traditional Inuit and contemporary government systems. Elders will play a crucial advisory role in government, just as they do in every other aspects of Inuit society and traditional political structure. The Government of Nunavut will necessarily be highly decentralized to respond to the needs of its 28 far-flung communities. Government departments and agencies will be set up in communities throughout the territory.
Preparations for Nunavut's self rule began several years ago with training and development programs sponsored by organizations such as The Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., Nunavut Arctic College, the Northwest Territories government, and the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. The Government of Canada has committed about $40 million to recruiting and training Nunavut public service employees. Health care and promotion, police and other protection services, and other assorted services continue to be provided by both the Northwest Territories and the Canadian government.
The Government of Nunavut faces enormous challenges. Goals of self-sufficiency, increased education and income levels, and the creation of employment and economic development opportunities among the most pressing. Nunavut has a cost of living two to three times higher that the rest of Canada. There is only one hospital in the entire territory although nursing stations and limited health care is available to most of the area. They also have the challenge of preserving their cultural identity and heritage with no blue-print or precedent to guide them as they address twentieth century problems.
Nunavut leaders recognize the many difficulties ahead. The creation of the new government has allowed the Inuit to take charge of their own destiny and apply the adaptability they have demonstrated by surviving 4,500 years in the world's harshest environment. Hunting, trapping, and fishing continue to be important to the economy. The people in most communities still rely on caribou, seals, and fish as their primary food source, and Canada's government now provides meat inspections so that the Inuit can sell some of their meat across Canada. They expect to be able to develop tourism, already their third largest industry, into a thriving enterprise. The arts and crafts of the Inuit are world renowned and sought after by the public and private sectors. Up to 30 percent of the Inuit receive some income from arts and crafts, and well know artists sell their work for thousands of dollars.
The existence of a territory like Nunavut marks a profound shift in how Canada, and much of the rest of the world, relates to Aboriginal people. Canada has provided a framework and shown how modern governments can resolve issues with indigenous peoples politically, in a way that is fair to both sides. Its progressive stance is changing world views on aboriginal rights for recompense and self rule. Although the Inuit of Nunavut have not gained sovereignty, they have as much self rule and political freedom and control of their own destiny as any else in their country.
For up to date news on Nunavut, visit Nunatisiaq News at http://www.nunatsiaq.com/nunavut/index.h...
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