Nunavut Becomes Canada's Newest Territory
Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada (the capital)
What happened
For many years the eastern Arctic was part of the Northwest Territories. In 1976 the Inuit Tapirisat of Canada put forward the first Inuit land claim proposal, which called for a new territory. On 1 April 1999, Nunavut, which means Our Land in Inuktitut, officially became the newest territory of Canada.
Why it matters
It was the first major change to the political map of Canada since Newfoundland joined in 1949. The Canadian Encyclopedia says Inuit peacefully created a government they controlled, and the land claim behind it was the largest Indigenous land-claims settlement in Canadian history.
What came next
Iqaluit became the capital. Nunavut has a consensus government, without political parties, and its own Inuit Language Protection Act.
Did you know?
In a 1982 vote across the Northwest Territories, about 56 percent of voters said yes to dividing it.
Timeline
- 1976The first Inuit land claim proposal calls for a new territory.
- 1982A vote across the Northwest Territories favors division.
- 10 June 1993The Nunavut Act and the land claims agreement act pass.
- 1 April 1999Nunavut officially becomes a territory.