NUNAVUT

Nunavut is the newest and largest
territory is Canada. It is beside the
Northwest Territories, above Saskatchewan and Manitoba and beside Greenland
(which is not part of Canada).

Nunavut (say it like this: Noo-na-voot)
means "our land" in the language of the
Inuit.

The population of Nunavut is 31 400 (in
2008).

The capital city is Iqaluit.

For a clear map of Nunavut click here.

The colours of the Nunavut flag, blue and gold, stand for the richness of the land, sea and sky. The red stands for Canada.

The inukshuk stands for the stone monuments that are created to mark special places and to guide people through the arctic.

The blue star is the North Star (Niqirtsuituq) which also helps guide people. Many can find their way at night by looking at the North Star. It also stands for the guidance and leadership of the elders which remains unchanged like the North Star.

Nunavut has adopted the Purple Saxifrage as their provincial flower. These beautiful flowers bloom soon after the snow melts and are found throughout the arctic regions. They are able to grow in gravel and other poor soil conditions. The flowers are used by the Inuit to create dye and they can be eaten.

Click here to learn more about the Purple Saxifrage.

Nunavut has chosen the Canadian Inuit Dog to be their animal symbol. These dogs have been used by the Inuit for years as hunters and sled dogs. They are also called Qimmiq in the Inuit language (Inuktitut).

For more information about the Canadian Inuit Dog click here.

Nunavut's bird symbol is the Rock Ptarmigan. In the winter this bird is white and in the summer some of it's feathers turn brown.

To learn more about Rock Ptarmigans please click here.

Photo courtesy of Dave Stephens.