Nunavut Territory (Canada)

Last modified: 2002-03-02 by phil nelson
Keywords: nunavut | canada | inukshuk | north star | iqaluit |
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by Arnaud Palac, 1 April 1999

• Cities and Municipalties (Canada)
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• Iqaluit

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Nunavut

Eastern part of the North-West Territories which has received a separate status on 1 April 1999.

From a Canadian Government publication:

The colours blue and gold are the ones preferred by the Nunavut Implementation Commissioners to symbolize the riches of the land, and sky. Red is a reference to Canada. The inukshuk symbolizes the stone monuments which guide the people on the land an mark sacred and other special places. The star is Nitirqsuituq, the North Star and the traditional guide for navigation and more broadly, forever remains unchanged as the leadership of the elders in the community.

An inukshuk is a man-like figure made of stones used by the Inuit when they go hunting to find their way and also to frighten caribous and lead them into a trap. Many of the flag propositions use this symbol.

Kamloops is a location in British Columbia where there is one of the Shuswap bands, a native nation.
Luc-Vartan Baronian 26 January 1998

The dominant colours, blue and gold, are the ones preferred by the Nunavut Implementation Commissioners to symbolize the riches of the land, sea and sky.

In the base of the shield, the inuksuk symbolizes the stone monuments which guide the people on the land and mark sacred and other special places. The qulliq, or Inuit stone lamp, represents light and the warmth of family and the community.

Above, the concave arc of five gold circles refers to the life-giving properties of the sun arching above and below the horizon, the unique part of the Nunavut year. The star is the Niqirtsuituq, the North Star and the traditional guide for navigation and more broadly, forever remains unchanged as the leadership of the elders in the community.

In the crest, the iglu represents the traditional life of the people and the means of survival. It also symbolizes the assembled members of the Legislature meeting together for the good of Nunavut; with the Royal Crown symbolizing public government for all the people of Nunavut and the equivalent status of Nunavut with other territories and provinces in Canadian Confederation.

The tuktu (caribou) and qilalugaq tugaalik (narwhal) refer to land and sea animals which are part of the rich natural heritage of Nunavut and provide sustenance for people.

The compartment at the base is composed of land and sea and features three important species of Arctic wild flowers.

The motto, in Inuktitut, NUNAVUT SANGINIVUT means Nunavut, our strength.

from the factsheets of the Government of Canada

Iqaluit is the capital of Nunavut

by Dean Tiegs

This is an illustration of "one of 300 submissions to Nunavut's flag competition" is adjacent to an article in the November/December 1997 Canadian Geographic.

The proposal follows the model of the Northwest Territories flag, being blue with a large central white portion the height of the flag. In front of a large red disk (representing the sun, low in the arctic sky?) is a gold inukshuk. Inukshuks are stone cairns having the rough outline of a human figure, built as landmarks by the Inuit. At the top of the white portion are Cree syllabics: the usual way of writing Cree and Inuit languages.

From the article:

Polar bears, caribou, narwhal, inukshuks--these are central elements in more than 300 submissions to a flag design competition for the soon-to-be-declared Nunavut Territory.

The ideas--mostly from grade school students but including some from professional artists--are under review by the Nunavut Implementation Commission. Plans are to choose a design by the new year, well in time for the April 1, 1999, creation of Nunavut.

Most submissions are similar to the Canadian flag with blue and white replacing the red and white and an Arctic symbol gracing the centre.

It should be emphasized that this was only one of many proposals.

I apologize for the image--I'm not skilled with a scanner or with graphics programs.
Dean Tiegs, 04 November 1997

The syllabics on the flag say, "Nunavut."
Matt McLauchlin, 17 December 2001