See also AIDS epidemic; Bush, George H. W.; El-
ders, Joycelyn; Health care; Joe Camel campaign; La-
tinos; Medicine; Tobacco industry settlement.
Nunavut Territory
Definition Canada’s largest and newest territory
Date Created on April 1, 1999, by division of the
Northwest Territories
Nunavut, meaning “our land,” came into existence as a re-
sult of the political initiative of the Inuit people, who felt ab-
original interests in the Canadian Arctic were increasingly
threatened by nonaboriginal policymakers and developers.
Composed of the central and eastern portions of the
Canadian Arctic, Nunavut has 31,000 residents in
twenty-eight communities spread over about 735,000
square miles, one-fifth of Canada’s total land area.
Specifically, the territory includes the eastern main-
land, much of the Arctic archipelago, and all of the
islands in the Hudson, James, and Ungava Bays.
The legal basis for its creation dates from the Ca-
nadian Supreme Court decision in 1973 that ruled
in favor of aboriginal title claims to traditional lands.
The Canadian government began negotiating land
claims settlements with the indigenous peoples in
1974, and in 1982 the Inuit lent their overwhelming
support to a plebiscite to divide the Northwest Terri-
tories. The Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act,
passed by the Canadian parliament in June, 1993,
gave the Inuit people title to more than 136,000
square miles of land, of which 14,000 square miles
include mineral rights; one billion dollars in capital
transfer payments over fourteen years; representa-
tion for Inuit on several resource and environmental
boards; and creation of a new territory, Nunavut,
with a system of self-government. All residents of the
territory can participate in the election of the gov-
ernment, regardless of ethnicity or origin; there are
no political parties; and decisions are made by con-
sensus within a unicameral legislative assembly and
are based heavily on the wisdom and values of Inuit
elders. A premier and commissioner lead the territo-
rial government, there are three internal adminis-
trative districts, and Iqaluit, formerly Frobisher Bay,
is the largest city (about 6,000 residents) and the ter-
ritorial capital.
Nunavut’s inhabitants, or Nunavummiut, are
about 85 percent Inuit, and Inuktitut, the Inuit lan-
guage, is the primary language of government and
internal communication. Hunting, trapping, and
fishing remain important activities for the local food
supply, and minerals such as lead, zinc, and gold are
valuable components of the territory’s resource
base. Arts and crafts are significant industries, and
tourism is likely to grow as a result of three new na-
tional parks.Impact The creation of Nunavut Territory repre-
sents an important milestone in the history of indig-
enous peoples in Canada. Pride in Inuit culture and
history has experienced a rebirth. The Nunavut Land
Claims Agreement Act transferred jurisdiction over
property taxation, land-use planning, and natural re-
source management to the territorial government.
Outside interests in energy and resource develop-
ment have posed a threat, but the citizens of Nunavut
have a strong voice in the protection of their fragile
Arctic environment. Still, Nunavut’s residents are
faced with daunting problems of high unemploy-
ment, dependency on Ottawa for federal funding,
environmental limits and vulnerabilities, and a cost
of living about twice that of southern Canada.Further Reading
Bennett, John, and Susan Rowley, eds.Uqalurait: An
Oral Histor y of Nunavut.Montreal: McGill-Queen’s
University Press, 2004.
Kulchyski, Peter Keith.Like the Sound of a Drum: Ab-
original Cultural Politics in Denendeh and Nunavut.
Winnipeg: University of Manitoba Press, 2005.
Ann M. LegreidSee also Chrétien, Jean; Demographics of Can-
ada; Elections in Canada; Employment in Canada;
Minorities in Canada; Mulroney, Brian; Native
Americans. Nye, Bill
Identification Television personality, science
educator, comedian, engineer, author and
inventor
Born November 27, 1955; Washington, D.C.Best known as “Bill Nye the Science Guy,” Nye earned national
acclaim by combining his talents for science and entertaining
on the small screen, creating a popular television program that
made science exciting and accessible for young audiences.The Nineties in America Nye, Bill 625