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Feature: Nunavut
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Quick Facts on Nunavut

The Name

  • Pronounced “Noo-na-voot” in both English and French
  • Means “our land” in Innuktitut, the language of Inuit

The Geography

  • Nunavut is 1,994 million square kilometres, constituting one fifth of Canada
  • The territory is located in northeast Canada, bordering Manitoba in the south, the Northwest Territories in the west, and reaches northeast to Greenland
  • The territory includes many arctic islands, including Baffin Island, Ellesmere Island and part of Victoria Island
  • The capital of Nunavut is Iqaluit (pop. 4,220), located on Baffin Island

The People

  • The population of Nunavut is 24,730 (1996 Census of Canada)

  • Ethnic breakdown:

    • Inuit 20,480

    • Non-aboriginal 3,975

    • N. American Indian 90

    • Metis 80

    • Multiple Aboriginal 35

    • Other Aboriginal 10

    • (1996 Census of Canada)
The Economy
  • Nunavut's economy is characterized by a traditional subsistence economy and a relatively young wage economy

  • The subsistence economy includes the hunting of caribou, seals, whales, walrus, and fish for food and clothing

  • The main sectors of the wage economy in order of importance:

    • Government (approximately 40 percent of all wage-jobs in Nunavut)

    • Mining (however, 85 percent are held by non-residents of Nunavut)

    • Construction and the services sector (mainly services the public service sector)

    • Tourism (contributes $30 million annually to Nunavut’s economy)

    • Fur industry

    • Arts and crafts (2, 500 earn some or all of their income from arts and crafts)

Other Facts
  • There are only 20 kilometres of highway in Nunavut

  • Iqaluit is the largest community in Nunavut with a population of 4,500

  • The cost of two litres of milk is $7.00, while the cost of a loaf of bread is $3.00

  • Average household income is $31,471

 


 

 

 

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This page was last modified: August 10, 2007