Northwest Territories

Northwest Territories


Flag
Coat of arms
Motto: (No official motto)[1]
Confederation July 15, 1870 (Hudson's Bay Company cedes territory to Canada) (6th)
Capital Yellowknife
Largest city Yellowknife
Largest metro Yellowknife
Government
 • Commissioner Gerald W. Kisoun (acting)[2]
 • Premier Bob McLeod (consensus government)
Legislature Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories
Federal representation (in Canadian Parliament)
House seats 1 of 338 (0.3%)
Senate seats 1 of 105 (1%)
Area[3]
 • Total 1,346,106 km2 (519,734 sq mi)
 • Land 1,183,085 km2 (456,792 sq mi)
 • Water 163,021 km2 (62,943 sq mi)  12.1%
Area rank Ranked 3rd
  13.5% of Canada
Population (2016)
 • Total 41,786 [4]
 • Estimate (2017 Q1) 44,263 [5]
 • Rank Ranked 11th
 • Density 0/km2 (0/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Northwest Territorian[6]
Official languages
GDP
 • Rank 11th
 • Total (2011) C$4.791 billion[7]
 • Per capita C$108,394 (1st)
Time zone UTC-7
Postal abbr. NT
Postal code prefix X0, X1 (Yellowknife)
ISO 3166 code CA-NT
Flower Mountain avens
Tree Tamarack Larch
Bird Gyrfalcon
Website www.gov.nt.ca
Rankings include all provinces and territories

The Northwest Territories (NT or NWT) (French: les Territoires du Nord-Ouest, TNO; Athabaskan languages: Denendeh; Inuinnaqtun: Nunatsiaq; Inuktitut: ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᖅ) is a territory of Canada. At a land area of approximately 1,144,000 km2 (442,000 sq mi) and a 2011 population of 41,462, it is the second-largest and the most populous of the three territories in Northern Canada.[8] Its estimated population as of 2016 is 44,291.[5] Yellowknife became the territorial capital in 1967, following recommendations by the Carrothers Commission.

The Northwest Territories, a portion of the old North-West Territory, entered the Canadian Confederation on July 15, 1870, but the current borders were formed on April 1, 1999, when the territory was subdivided to create Nunavut to the east, via the Nunavut Act and the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement.[9][10] While Nunavut is mostly Arctic tundra, the Northwest Territories has a slightly warmer climate and is both boreal forest (taiga), and tundra, and its most northern regions form part of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago.

The Northwest Territories are bordered by Canada's two other territories, Nunavut to the east and Yukon to the west, and by the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan to the south.

Etymology

The name is descriptive, adopted by the British government during the colonial era to indicate where it lay in relation to Rupert's Land. It is shortened from North-Western Territory (see History). In Inuktitut, the Northwest Territories are referred to as ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᖅ (Nunatsiaq), "beautiful land."[11]

There was some discussion of changing the name of the Northwest Territories after the splitting off of Nunavut, possibly to a term from an Aboriginal language. One proposal was "Denendeh" (an Athabaskan language word meaning "our land"), as advocated by the former premier Stephen Kakfwi, among others. One of the most popular proposals for a new name – one to name the territory "Bob" – began as a prank, but for a while it was at or near the top in the public-opinion polls.[12][13]

In the end a poll conducted prior to division showed that strong support remained to keep the name "Northwest Territories". This name arguably became more appropriate following division than it had been when the territories extended far into Canada's north-central and northeastern areas.[14][15]

Geography

Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south. It possibly meets Manitoba at a quadripoint to the extreme southeast, though surveys have not been completed. It has a land area of 1,183,085 km2 (456,792 sq mi).[3]

Geographical features include Great Bear Lake, the largest lake entirely within Canada,[16] and Great Slave Lake, the deepest body of water in North America at 614 m (2,014 ft), as well as the Mackenzie River and the canyons of the Nahanni National Park Reserve, a national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Territorial islands in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago include Banks Island, Borden Island, Prince Patrick Island, and parts of Victoria Island and Melville Island. Its highest point is Mount Nirvana near the border with Yukon at an elevation of 2,773 m (9,098 ft).

Climate

Köppen climate types in the Northwest Territories
Ice road on Great Slave Lake, Northwest Territories, 2009

The Northwest Territories extends for more than 1,300,000 km2 (500,000 sq mi) and has a large climate variant from south to north. The southern part of the territory (most of the mainland portion) has a subarctic climate, while the islands and northern coast have a polar climate.

Summers in the north are short and cool, with daytime highs in the mid teens Celsius (60° to 70 °F), and lows in the single degrees Celsius (45° to 55 °F). Winters are long and harsh, daytime highs in the mid −20 °C (−4 °F) and lows around −40 °C (−40 °F). Extremes are common with summer highs in the south reaching 36 °C (97 °F) and lows reaching into the negatives. In winter in the south, it is not uncommon for the temperatures to reach −40 °C (−40 °F), but they can also reach the low teens during the day. In the north, temperatures can reach highs of 30 °C (86 °F), and lows can reach into the low negatives. In winter in the north it is not uncommon for the temperatures to reach −50 °C (−58 °F) but they can also reach the single digits during the day. Thunderstorms are not rare in the south. In the north they are very rare, but do occur.[17] Tornadoes are extremely rare but have happened with the most notable one happening just outside Yellowknife that destroyed a communications tower. The Territory has a fairly dry climate due to the mountains in the west.

About half of the territory is above the tree line. There are not many trees in most of the eastern areas of the territory, or in the north islands.[18]

Average daily maximum and minimum temperatures for selected cities in Northwest Territories[19]
City July (°C) July (°F) January (°C) January (°F)
Fort Simpson 24/11 75/52 −20/−29 −4/-19
Yellowknife 21/13 70/55 −22/−30 −7/−21
Inuvik 20/9 67/48 −23/−31 −9/−24
Sachs Harbour 10/3 50/38 −24/−32 −12/−25

History

North-Western Territory in 1859
Proclamation concerning the admission of Rupert's Land and the North-West Territories to Canada

The present-day territory came under government authority in July 1870, after the Hudson's Bay Company transferred Rupert's Land and North-Western Territory to the British Crown, which subsequently transferred them to the government of Canada, giving it the name the North-West Territories. This immense region comprised all of today's Canada except that which was encompassed within the early signors of Canadian Confederation, that is, British Columbia, early forms of present-day Ontario and Quebec (which encompassed the coast of the Great Lakes, the Saint Lawrence River valley and the southern third of Quebec), the Maritimes (NS, PEI and NB), Newfoundland, the Labrador coast, and the Arctic Islands, except the southern half of Baffin Island (the Arctic Islands remained under direct British claim until 1880).[20]

After the 1870 transfer, some of the North-West Territories was whittled away. The province of Manitoba was created on July 15, 1870, at first a small square area around Winnipeg, and then enlarged in 1881 to a rectangular region composing the modern province's south. By the time British Columbia joined Confederation on July 20, 1871, it had already (1866) been granted the portion of North-Western Territory south of 60 degrees north and west of 120 degrees west, an area that comprised most of the Stickeen Territories.

Captain John Henry Lefroy winter 1843/44

In the meantime, the Province of Ontario was enlarged northwestward in 1882. Quebec was also extended northwards in 1898. Yukon was made a separate territory that year, due to the Klondike Gold Rush, to free the NWT government in Regina from the burden of addressing the problems caused by the sudden boom of population and economic activity, and the influx of non-Canadians.

The provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan were created in 1905, and Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec acquired the last addition to their modern landmass from the NWT in 1912. This left only the districts of Mackenzie, Franklin (which absorbed the remnants of Ungava in 1920), and Keewatin within what was then given the name Northwest Territories. In 1925, the boundaries of the NWT were extended all the way to the North Pole on the sector principle, vastly expanding its territory onto the northern ice cap.

In 1912, the Parliament of Canada made the official name of these territories the Northwest Territories, dropping all hyphenated forms of it. Between 1925 and 1999, the Northwest Territories covered a land area of 3,439,296 km2 (1,327,920 sq mi) – larger than that of India.

On April 1, 1999, the existing Northwest Territories was split into two parts, with a separate Nunavut territory being formed to represent the Inuit people.[21]

Demography

The NWT is one of two jurisdictions in Canada – Nunavut being the other – where Aboriginal peoples are in the majority, constituting 50.3% of the population.[22]

Slavey girls, Mackenzie River, Northwest Territories, 1899

According to the 2006 Canadian census, the 10 major ethnic groups were:[23]

Population of the Northwest Territories since 1871[24]

Year Population five-year
% change		 ten-year
% change		 Rank among provinces
and territories
1871 48,000 n/a n/a 6
1881 56,446 n/a 17.6 7
1891 98,967 n/a 75.3 7
1901 20,1291 n/a −79.7 11
1911 6,5072 n/a −67.7 11
1921 8,143 n/a 25.1 10
1931 9,316 n/a 14.4 10
1941 12,028 n/a 29.1 10
1951 16,004 n/a 33.1 11
1956 19,313 20.7 n/a 11
1961 22,998 19.1 43.7 11
1966 28,738 25.0 48.8 11
1971 34,805 21.1 51.3 11
1976 42,610 22.4 48.3 11
1981 45,740 7.3 31.4 11
1986 52,235 14.2 22.6 11
1991 57,649 10.3 26.0 11
1996 64,402 11.7 23.2 11
2001[25] 37,3603 −42.0 −35.2 11
2006[22] 41,464 12.0 −35.0 11
2011[8] 41,462 0.0 11.0 11
1.^ Yukon was ceded from the Northwest Territories in 1898.
2.^ Alberta and Saskatchewan were created from parts of the Northwest Territories in 1905.
3.^ Nunavut was separated from the Northwest Territories in 1999.

Religion

The largest denominations by number of adherents according to the 2001 census were Roman Catholic with 16,940 (46.7%); the Anglican Church of Canada with 5,510 (14.9%); and the United Church of Canada with 2,230 (6.0%), while a total of 6,465 (17.4%) people stated no religion.[26]

Language

A metallic white sign on a gray background with a red and blue depiction of a building at the top. Below it is text in blue saying "Eye Clinic" in English, French and the other nine official territorial languages
Sign for eye clinic in Yellowknife with all 11 official territorial languages

French was made an official language in 1877 by the territorial government. After a lengthy and bitter debate resulting from a speech from the throne in 1888 by Lieutenant Governor Joseph Royal the members of the day voted on more than one occasion to nullify and make English the only language used in the assembly. After some conflict with Ottawa and a decisive vote on January 19, 1892, the assembly members voted for an English-only territory.

The Northwest Territories' Official Languages Act recognizes the following eleven official languages, which are more than in any other political division in the Americas:[27]

NWT residents have a right to use any of the above languages in a territorial court and in debates and proceedings of the legislature. However, laws are legally binding only in their French and English versions, and the NWT government only publishes laws and other documents in the territory's other official languages when the legislature asks it to. Furthermore, access to services in any language is limited to institutions and circumstances where there is significant demand for that language or where it is reasonable to expect it given the nature of the services requested. In practical terms, English language services are universally available, and there is no guarantee that other languages, including French, will be used by any particular government service except for the courts.

The 2006 census returns showed a population of 41,464. Of the 40,680 singular responses to the census question regarding each inhabitant's "mother tongue", the most reported languages were the following:

1 English 31,545 77.5%
2 Dogrib (Tłı̨chǫ) 1,950 4.8%
3 South Slavey 1,285 3.2%
4 French 975 2.4%
5 North Slavey 835 2.1%
6 Inuktitut 695 1.7%
7 Tagalog 505 1.2%
8 Chipewyan 390 1.0%
9 Vietnamese 305 0.8%
10 Chinese 260 0.6%
11 Cree 190 0.5%
11 Gwich'in 190 0.5%
13 Inuinnaqtun 55 0.1%

There were also 320 responses of both English and a "non-official language"; 15 of both French and a "non-official language"; 45 of both English and French, and about 400 people who either did not respond to the question, or reported multiple non-official languages, or else gave some other un-enumeratable response. The Northwest Territories' official languages are shown in bold.

(Figures shown are for the number of single language responses and the percentage of total single-language responses)[28]

Communities

Looking towards downtown Yellowknife from Old Town

As of 2014 there are 33 official communities in the NWT.[29] These range in size from Yellowknife with a population of 19,234[30] to Kakisa with 45 people.[31] Governance of each community differs, some are run under various types of First Nations control, while others are designated as a city, town, village or hamlet, but most communities are municipal corporations.[29][32] Yellowknife is the largest community and has the largest number of Aboriginal peoples, 4,105 (22.2%) people.[33] However, Behchoko, with a population of 1,926,[34] is the largest First Nations community, 1,730 (91.5%),[35] and Inuvik with 3,463 people[36] is the largest Inuvialuit community, 1,335 (38.9%).[37] There is one Indian reserve in the NWT, Hay River Reserve, located on the south shore of the Hay River.

Five largest municipalities by population
Municipality 2006
Yellowknife[30] 19,234
Hay River[38] 3,606
Inuvik[37] 3,463
Fort Smith[39] 2,093
Behchoko[34] 1,926

Economy

Diavik Diamond Mine in the North Slave Region
Cantung Mine

The NWT's geological resources include gold, diamonds, natural gas and petroleum. BP is the only oil company currently producing oil in the Territory. NWT diamonds are promoted as an alternative to purchasing blood diamonds.[40] Two of the biggest mineral resource companies in the world, BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto mine many of their diamonds from the NWT. In 2010, NWT accounted for 28.5% of Rio Tinto's total diamond production (3.9 million carats, 17% more than in 2009, from the Diavik Diamond Mine) and 100% of BHP's (3.05 million carats from the EKATI mine).[41][42]

The Northwest Territories has the highest per capita GDP of all provinces or territories in Canada, C$76,000 in 2009.[43] However, as production at the current mines started to wind down, no new mines opened and the public service shrank, the territory lost 1,200 jobs between November 2013 and November 2014.[44]

Major territorial mines

Government

Northwest Territories Legislative Building

As a territory, the NWT has fewer rights than the provinces. During his term, Premier Kakfwi pushed to have the federal government accord more rights to the territory, including having a greater share of the returns from the territory's natural resources go to the territory.[45] Devolution of powers to the territory was an issue in the 20th general election in 2003, and has been ever since the territory began electing members in 1881.

The Commissioner of the NWT is the chief executive and is appointed by the Governor-in-Council of Canada on the recommendation of the federal Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development. The position used to be more administrative and governmental, but with the devolution of more powers to the elected assembly since 1967, the position has become symbolic. The Commissioner had full governmental powers until 1980 when the territories were given greater self-government. The Legislative Assembly then began electing a cabinet and Government Leader, later known as the Premier. Since 1985 the Commissioner no longer chairs meetings of the Executive Council (or cabinet), and the federal government has instructed commissioners to behave like a provincial Lieutenant Governor. Unlike Lieutenant Governors, the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories is not a formal representative of the Queen of Canada.

Unlike provincial governments and the government of Yukon, the government of the Northwest Territories does not have political parties, except for the period between 1898 and 1905. It is a consensus government called the Legislative Assembly. This group is composed of one member elected from each of the nineteen constituencies. After each general election, the new Assembly elects the Premier and the Speaker by secret ballot. Seven MLAs are also chosen as cabinet ministers, with the remainder forming the opposition.

The current Legislative Assembly is the 18th and the most recent election was held November 23, 2015.[46] The Premier is Bob McLeod. The member of Parliament for the Northwest Territories is Michael McLeod (Liberal Party). The Commissioner of the Northwest Territories is George Tuccaro and the Deputy Commissioner is Margaret Thom.

In the Parliament of Canada, the NWT comprises a single Senate division and a single House of Commons electoral district, titled Northwest Territories (Western Arctic until 2014).

Departments

The Government of Northwest Territories comprises the following departments:[47]


Culture

Aboriginal issues in the Northwest Territories include the fate of the Dene who, in the 1940s, were employed to carry radioactive uranium ore from the mines on Great Bear Lake. Of the thirty plus miners who worked at the Port Radium site, at least fourteen have died due to various forms of cancer. A study was done in the community of Deline, called A Village of Widows by Cindy Kenny-Gilday, which indicated that the number of people involved were too small to be able to confirm or deny a link.[48][49]

There has been racial tension based on a history of violent conflict between the Dene and the Inuit,[50] who have now taken recent steps towards reconciliation.

Land claims in the NWT began with the Inuvialuit Final Agreement, signed on June 5, 1984. It was the first Land Claim signed in the Territory, and the second in Canada.[51] It culminated with the creation of the Inuit homeland of Nunavut, the result of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement, the largest land claim in Canadian history.[52]

Another land claims agreement with the Tłı̨chǫ people created a region within the NWT called Tli Cho, between Great Bear and Great Slave Lakes, which gives the Tłı̨chǫ their own legislative bodies, taxes, resource royalties, and other affairs, though the NWT still maintains control over such areas as health and education. This area includes two of Canada's three diamond mines at Ekati and Diavik.[53]

Festivals

Among the festivals in the region are the Great Northern Arts Festival, the Snowking Winter Festival, Folk on the Rocks music festival in Yellowknife, and Rockin the Rocks.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "What is the official motto of the Northwest Territories?". Assembly.gov.nt.ca. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
  2. ↑ "Office of the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories". NWT Government. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  3. 1 2 "Land and freshwater area, by province and territory". February 1, 2005.
  4. ↑ Population and Dwelling Count Highlight Tables, 2016 Census – Canada, provinces and territories
  5. 1 2 "Population by year of Canada of Canada and territories". Statistics Canada. September 26, 2014. Retrieved March 20, 2016.
  6. ↑ The terms Northwest Territorian(s) Hansard, Thursday, March 25, 2004, and (informally) NWTer(s) Hansard, Monday, October 23, 2006, occur in the official record of the territorial legislature. According to the Oxford Guide to Canadian English Usage (ISBN 0-19-541619-8; p. 335), there is no common term for a resident of Northwest Territories.
  7. ↑ "Gross domestic product, expenditure-based, by province and territory (2011)". Statistics Canada. November 19, 2013. Retrieved September 26, 2013.
  8. 1 2 "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, 2011 and 2006 censuses". Statcan.gc.ca. February 8, 2012. Retrieved February 8, 2012.
  9. ↑ Justice Canada (1993). "Nunavut Act". Retrieved April 26, 2007.
  10. ↑ Justice Canada (1993). "Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act". Retrieved April 26, 2007.
  11. ↑ Izenberg, Dafna (Summer 2005). "The Conscience of Nunavut". Ryerson Review of Journalism (online). Toronto: Ryerson School of Journalism. ISSN 0838-0651. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
  12. ↑ "Northwest Territories looking for new name – "Bob" need not apply". Canada: CBC. January 11, 2002. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
  13. ↑ "Western Arctic to Northwest Territories: MP calls for riding name change". Canada: CBC. June 25, 2008. Retrieved April 30, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Tundra for two: dividing Canada's far-north is no small task". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on April 5, 2005. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
  15. ↑ Jon Willing. "What about Bob, Water-Lou?". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on January 18, 2003. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
  16. ↑ "Top 10 Lakes – Great Bear Lake".
  17. ↑ Maybank, J. (2012). "Thunderstorm". The Canadian Encyclopedia. The Historica-Dominion Institute. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
  18. ↑ "Publications & Maps". Globalforestwatch.org. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
  19. ↑ "National Climate Data and Information Archive". Environment Canada. Retrieved February 29, 2012.
  20. ↑ "Canadian Heritage – Northwest Territories". Pch.gc.ca. July 13, 2010. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
  21. ↑ "Creation of a new Northwest Territories". Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  22. 1 2 "Canada Census 2006". 2.statcan.ca. December 6, 2010. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
  23. ↑ StatCan (January 2006). "Population by selected ethnic origins, by province and territory". Retrieved May 5, 2012.
  24. ↑ . Statistics Canada, 2005.
  25. ↑ "2001 Community Profiles". March 12, 2002.
  26. ↑ "Selected Religions, for Canada, Provinces and Territories – 20% Sample Data". 2.statcan.ca. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
  27. ↑ Northwest Territories Official Languages Act, 1988 (as amended 1988, 1991–1992, 2003)
  28. ↑ "Detailed Mother Tongue (186), Knowledge of Official Languages (5), Age Groups (17A) and Sex (3) for the Population of Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2001 and 2006 Censuses – 20% Sample Data". 2007.
  29. 1 2 "NWT Communities - List". Government of the Northwest Territories: Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. Retrieved 2014-01-29.
  30. 1 2 "2011 Census, Yellowknife". Government of Canada.
  31. ↑ "2006 Census, Kakisa". Government of Canada.
  32. ↑ "Differences in Community Government Structures" (PDF). Retrieved February 22, 2011.
  33. ↑ "Community Profiles from the 2006 Census, Statistics Canada – Census Subdivision". March 13, 2007.
  34. 1 2 "Census Profile". May 6, 2015.
  35. ↑ "2006 Aboriginal Population Profile – Behchoko". 2.statcan.ca. December 6, 2010. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
  36. ↑ "Census Profile". May 6, 2015.
  37. 1 2 "Aboriginal Population Profile from the 2006 Census, Statistics Canada". January 15, 2008.
  38. ↑ "2011 Community Profiles – Hay River". 2.statcan.ca. February 1, 2012. Retrieved May 6, 2012.
  39. ↑ "2011 Community Profiles – Fort Smith". 2.statcan.ca. February 1, 2012. Retrieved May 6, 2012.
  40. ↑ "BHP Billiton diamond marketing". Bhpbilliton.com. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
  41. ↑ "Rio Tinto 4th quarter 2010 Operations" (PDF). 2011.
  42. ↑ "BHP Billiton 2010 Annual Report page 124" (PDF). 2010.
  43. ↑ Government of the Northwest Territories: Industry, Tourism and Investment. "Did You Know?". Retrieved April 10, 2010.
  44. ↑ Danylchuk, Jack (November 9, 2014). "NWT loses 1,200 jobs since last year: monthly labour report - EDGEYK.com".
  45. ↑ "NWT Premier asks provincial leaders for backing". Globeandmail.com. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
  46. ↑ Elections NWT official results
  47. ↑ Government of the NWT, retrieved March 19, 2012
  48. ↑ "A Village of Widows". Arcticcircle.uconn.edu. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
  49. ↑ "Echoes of the Atomic Age". Ccnr.org. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
  50. ↑ Relations with their Southern Neighbours
  51. ↑ "IRC: Inuvialuit Final Agreement". Retrieved March 28, 2012.
  52. ↑ "Agreement between the Inuit of the Nunavut Settlement Area and Her Majesty The Queen in Right of Canada" (PDF). Retrieved January 10, 2009.
  53. ↑ Government of the NWT news release on land claims signing Archived February 12, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.

Further reading

Coordinates: 66°N 119°W / 66°N 119°W / 66; -119

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