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Inuit Nunangat

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Inuit Nunangat
ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᑦ
Inuit Regions of Canada
Location of Inuit Nunangat
StateCanada
RegionsInuvialuit Settlement Region
Nunavut
Nunavik
Nunatsiavut
Province/TerritoryNT/YK, NU, QC, NL
Area
 • Total
3,304,740 km2 (1,275,970 sq mi)
 • Land2,484,591 km2 (959,306 sq mi)
 • Water820,149 km2 (316,661 sq mi)
Population
 (2016)[1][2][3][4]
 • Total
56,585
 • Density0.017/km2 (0.044/sq mi)
 • Inuit
47,335
Time zoneUTC−08:00 (PST)
UTC−07:00 (MST)
UTC−06:00 (CST)
UTC−05:00 (EST)
UTC−04:00 (AST)
 • Summer (DST)Varies
Inuit languages (east to west)Inuvialuktun
Inuktut (Inuinnaqtun, Inuktitut)
Inuttitut
Websitewww.itk.ca/about-canadian-inuit/#nunangat

Inuit Nunangat (/ˈɪnjuɪtˈnunæŋæt/; Inuktitut syllabics: ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᑦ; lit. "lands, waters and ices of the [Inuit] people") is the homeland of the Inuit in Canada. This Arctic homeland consists of four northern Canadian regions called the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (home of the Inuvialuit and the northern portion of the Northwest Territories), the Canadian territory of Nunavut (ᓄᓇᕗᑦ), Nunavik (ᓄᓇᕕᒃ) in northern Quebec and Nunatsiavut of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Etymology

Maps showing the different cultures (Dorset, Thule, Norse, Innu, and Beothuk) in Greenland, Labrador, Newfoundland and the Canadian Arctic islands in the years 900, 1100, 1300 and 1500
Arctic cultures from 900 to 1500:
  Dorset
  Innu
  Thule
  Beothuk
  Norse

Originally using the Greenlandic term "Nunaat" excluding the waters and ices, Inuit of Canada formally switched to the Inuktitut "Nunangat" in 2009 to reflect the integral nature "lands, waters and ices" have to Inuit culture.[5]

History

Inuit settlement

Aside from Métis, Inuit are the most recent Indigenous arrivals on the continent.

Inuit ancestors known as the Thule settled the Arctic replacing the previous dominant Dorset culture (Tuniit). The last remnant of Tuniit were Sadlermiut who disappeared in the early 1900s.

Inuit replaced the local Dorset culture over the course of around 200 years in the first millennium CE.

Displacement of the Tuniit ᑐᓃᑦ, or the Dorset people, and the arrival of the Inuit (whose ancestors are often called Thule) occurred in the 1100-1300s CE. Coming from Siberia where they split from the Aleut and other related peoples about 4,000 years ago, Inuit had reached Inughuit Nunaat in western Greenland by about 1300 CE, bringing with them transport dogs and various new technologies.

Trade relations were and remain strong with bordering countries and nations,[6] such as with the Gwich'in[7] and Chipewyan (Dënesųłı̨né)[8] of Denendeh and Innu of Nitassinan ᓂᑕᔅᓯᓇᓐ,[9] though occasional conflicts arose. Trade and relations with Europeans began with sparse Norse–Inuit contact and Basque trade with the southern NunatuKavummuit of NunatuKavut and the Nunatsiavummuit. Martin Frobisher's 1576 expedition to find the Northwest Passage landed on and around Baffin Island, in today's Qikiqtaaluk Region ᕿᑭᖅᑖᓗᒃ, where three Inuit, a man called Calichough (Kalicho), a woman, Egnock (Arnaq), and her child, Nutioc (Nuttaaq), were kidnapped and brought to the European continent, where they all died.[10][11][12][13]

The first treaty signed between Inuit and the Crown was in 1765 where NunatuKavut held negotiations over land use rights in Labrador. Around the same time, the Moravian Church set up missions supported by the English after altercations between NunatuKavut and colonial governments, with NunatuKavummuit's raids on whaling outposts ended by both treaties and the beginnings of harsh church control.

Canadian colonisation

Canadian colonisation extended in to Inuit Nunangat via the lands claimed as Rupert's Land, North-Western Territory and Quebec, later including Newfoundland and Labrador. Rapid spread of diseases, material wealth, the Christian churches and Canadian policing[14] saw a rapid decline and collapse of Inuit Nunangat, from which it is still recovering.

Since European colonisers had little desire to settle much of Inuit Nunangat's territories, the violence experienced by southern First Nations was comparatively minimal in the North. However, assimilation policies including the wide-scale slaughter of community dogs between 1950 and 1970,[15] the High Arctic relocation[16][17] as well as forced participation within the Canadian Indian residential school system[18] has left Inuit society with language loss and intergenerational trauma.[19]

Modern era

Today, Inuit Nunangat is overseen by the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑕᐱᕇᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ, meaning either "Inuit are united with Canada"[20] or "Inuit are united in Canada"[21]) which acts as a cultural centre piece and quasi-central government for Inuit affairs within Canada.

While Nunavut's confederation within Canada in 1999 via the Nunavut Act and Nunavut Land Claims Agreement is most visible, each of the regions of Inuit Nunangat as well as NunatuKavut have land claims with Canada. Nunangit came under the jurisdiction of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation two years after the 1984 Inuvialuit Final Agreement, and Nunatsiavut was granted an autonomous government in 2005 after the 2002 Labrador Inuit Association proposal for a separate government. Beginning with a land claim in 1977, negotiations launched in 1988 between the Labrador Inuit Association, the governments of Newfoundland and Labrador and that of Canada. In Northern Quebec, the Makivik Corporation was established upon the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement signing in 1978, taking the mantle from the previous Nunavimmiut "Northern Quebec Inuit Association" (ᑯᐸᐃᒃ ᑕᕐᕋᖓᓂ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖏᑦ Kupaik Tarrangani Inuit Katujjiqatigiingit).

Finally, not formally within Inuit Nunangat is NunatuKavut whose treaty with the British extends back to 1765 and remains in force,[22] with the NunatuKavut Community Council (NCC) overseeing governance in this region.[23]

Demographics

Inuvialuit Settlement Region
Nunavut
Nunavik
Nunatsiavut

As of the 2016 Canadian Census the population of Inuit Nunangat was 56,585. The Indigenous population is 49,020 or 86.63% and 47,335 (83.65%) are Inuit.[1][2][3][4]

Population of Inuit Nunangat
Region Total Inuit First Nations Métis Other Indigenous Non-Indigenous
Inuvialuit Settlement Region[1] 5,330 3,110 860 130 25 1,205
Nunavut[2] 35,575 30,135 190 165 60 5,025
Nunavik[3] 13,125 11,800 135 30 30 1,130
Nunatsiavut[4] 2,555 2,290 25 35 0 205
Totals 56,585 47,335 1,210 360 115 7,565

Of those Inuit living in Inuit Nunangat 6.57% live in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, 63.66% in Nunavut, 24.93% in Nunavik and 4.84% in Nunatsiavut.[1][2][3][4] In total there are 65,025 Inuit in Canada with 47, 335 (72.80%) living in Inuit Nunangat and 17,695 (27.21%) living in other parts of Canada.[24]

Communities

Ten largest communities of Inuit Nunangat (2016)
Municipality Region Population
Iqaluit Nunavut 7,082
Inuvik Inuvialuit Settlement Region 3,243
Kuujjuaq Nunavik 2,754
Rankin Inlet Nunavut 2,441
Arviat Nunavut 2,318
Baker Lake Nunavut 1,872
Puvirnituq Nunavik 1,779
Inukjuak Nunavik 1,757
Cambridge Bay Nunavut 1,619
Pond Inlet Nunavut 1,549

Inuvik is the regional centre for the Inuvik Region in the Northwest Territories and serves as a regional seat for the Inuvialuit Settlement Region. Iqaluit is the capital of Nunavut and Kuujjuaq for Nunavik. For Nunatsiavut, Hopedale (population 574[25]) is the legislative capital and Nain (population 1,125[26]) is the administrative capital.

There are six communities in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, one town, Inuvik and five hamlets, Aklavik, Paulatuk, Sachs Harbour, Tuktoyaktuk and Ulukhaktok.

There are twenty-five populated communities in Nunavut.[27] One city, Iqaluit and twenty-four hamlets, Arctic Bay, Arviat, Baker Lake, Cambridge Bay, Cape Dorset, Chesterfield Inlet, Clyde River, Coral Harbour, Gjoa Haven, Grise Fiord, Hall Beach, Igloolik, Kimmirut, Kugaaruk, Kugluktuk, Naujaat, Pangnirtung, Pond Inlet, Qikiqtarjuaq, Rankin Inlet, Resolute, Sanikiluaq, Taloyoak and Whale Cove. In addition there is one uninhabited community recognised by the Government of Nunavut, Bathurst Inlet. Statistics Canada also recognises the uninhabited communities of Nanisivik and Umingmaktok.[28]

There are fourteen villages in Nunavik, Akulivik, Aupaluk, Inukjuak, Ivujivik, Kangiqsualujjuaq, Kangiqsujuaq, Kangirsuk, Kuujjuaq, Kuujjuarapik, Puvirnituq, Quaqtaq, Salluit, Tasiujaq and Umiujaq. All of these are northern village municipalities (TN) (Municipalité de village nordique) and, with the exception of Ivujivik and Puvirnituq, all have reserved lands associated.

There are five towns in Nunatsiavut, Hopedale, Makkovik, Nain, Postville and Rigolet.

Language

People

Main article: Inuit

Inuit are diverse peoples who share cultural and linguistic similarities. Moreover, they are a bimodal people, speaking both oral languages (Inuktut) and sign languages (Atgangmuurniq).

Peoples of Inuit Nunangat

  • Nunavummiut
  • Kivallirmiut
  • Nunavimmiut
  • Inuvialuit
  • Nunatsiavummuit

Inuit outside Nunangat

  • NunatuKavummuit
  • Kalaallit/Inughuit/Tunumiit
  • Iñupiaq
  • Yup'ik
  • Sugpiaq

Geography

Spanning much of the North American Arctic, Inuit Nunangat is mostly above the tree line.

Climate change

Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami released in 2019 their National Inuit Climate Change Strategy to combat and respond to the ecological collapse and its effects on Inuit and Inuit Nunangat.[29]

Culture

Inuit culture transcends millennia and includes numerous music styles, sports and other cultural attributes.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Aboriginal Population Profile, 2016 Census Inuvialuit region [Inuit region], Northwest Territories". Statistics Canada. Government of Canada. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d "Aboriginal Population Profile, 2016 Census Nunavut [Inuit region], Nunavut". Statistics Canada. Government of Canada. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d "Aboriginal Population Profile, 2016 Census Nunavik [Inuit region], Quebec". Statistics Canada. Government of Canada. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
  4. ^ a b c d "Aboriginal Population Profile, 2016 Census Nunatsiavut [Inuit region], Newfoundland and Labrador". Statistics Canada. Government of Canada. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
  5. ^ "Maps Of Inuit Nunangat (Inuit Regions Of Canada)". Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑕᐱᕇᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ. ITK. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
  6. ^ "Inuit Trade in the Central Arctic". Inuit contact and colonization. Inuit Heritage Trust. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
  7. ^ Black, Scott; Montgomery, Georgina; Fehr, Alan, eds. (2002). Canada's Western Arctic (PDF). Inuvik, Denendeh/Nunangit, Canada: Western Arctic Handbook Committee. p. 342. ISBN 0-9687910-0-X. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
  8. ^ Csonka, Yvon (1999). "A stereotype further dispelled: Inuit-Dene relations west of Hudson Bay, 1920–1956". Études/Inuit/Studies. 23 (1/2): 117–144. JSTOR 42870948.
  9. ^ "Innu Culture". Heritage Newfoundland and Labrador. Heritage Newfoundland and Labrador. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
  10. ^ Renée Fossett (2001). In Order to Live Untroubled: Inuit of the Central Arctic, 1550-1940. Univ. of Manitoba Press. p. 37. ISBN 978-0-88755-328-8.
  11. ^ "The Death of the Inuit Man in England: Postmortem report and comments of Dr. Edward Dodding (Excerpts)" (PDF). National Humanities Center. 2006.
  12. ^ Karen Ordahl Kupperman (30 June 2009). The Jamestown Project. Harvard University Press. p. 94. ISBN 978-0-674-02702-2.
  13. ^ Vaughan, Alden T. "American Indians in England (act. c.1500–1615)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/71116. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  14. ^ Bonesteel, Sarah (June 2006). Canada's Relationship with Inuit: A History of Policy and Program Development (Report). Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada. ISBN 978-1-100-11121-6.
  15. ^ Qikiqtani Inuit Association (April 2014). Qimmiliriniq: Inuit Sled Dogs in Qikiqtaaluk (PDF) (Report). Toronto, Ontario: Qikiqtani Inuit Association. ISBN 978-1-927095-63-8.
  16. ^ The High Arctic Relocation: A Report on the 1953–55 Relocation by René Dussault and George Erasmus, produced by the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, published by Canadian Government Publishing, 1994 (190 pages)"Archived copy". Archived from the original on 1 October 2009. Retrieved 9 October 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  17. ^ Porteous, John Douglas; Smith, Sandra Eileen (2001). Domicide: The Global Destruction of Home. McGill-Queen's Press. pp. 102–03. ISBN 978-0-7735-2258-9.
  18. ^ Elgar, Margaret Fern (19 September 1997). A Comparative Study of Native Residential Schools and the Residential Schools for the Deaf in Canada (PDF) (Thesis). Carleton University. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
  19. ^ "Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls". mmiwg-ffada. National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
  20. ^ postscript on Aboriginal Titles, Katherine Barber, Government of Canada Translation Service"
  21. ^ We are the national voice of Canada’s 65,000 Inuit.
  22. ^ "British-Inuit Treaty of 1765". NunatuKavut Our Ancient Land. NunatuKavut. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
  23. ^ "Our Governance". NunatuKavut Our Ancient Land. NunatuKavut. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
  24. ^ Inuit population by residence inside or outside Inuit Nunangat, 2016
  25. ^ "Hopedale, Town [Census subdivision], Newfoundland and Labrador and Division No. 11, Census division [Census division], Newfoundland and Labrador". Statistics Canada. Government of Canada. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
  26. ^ "Nain, Town [Census subdivision], Newfoundland and Labrador and Division No. 11, Census division [Census division], Newfoundland and Labrador". Statistics Canada. Government of Canada. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
  27. ^ "Community Information - Government of Nunavut". www.gov.nu.ca. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
  28. ^ "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Nunavut)". Statistics Canada. 20 February 2019. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
  29. ^ "National Inuit Climate Change Strategy Sets Out Coordinated Actions To Shape Climate Policy". Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑕᐱᕇᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
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