Did you know Nunavut means "our land" in the Inuit language, Inuktitut? Nunavut became Canada's newest territory on April 1, 1999. Nunavut used to be a part of the Northwest Territories. Iqaluit is the capital city of Nunavut. Most people who live in Nunavut are Inuit.

Nunavut is the biggest territory in Canada. Seven of Canada's biggest islands such as Baffin Island are found there. Even though Nunavut is a big place, the population is very small. Some wildlife found in Nunavut includes: caribou, polar bears, muskox, Atlantic walrus, reindeer and fish like lake trout and arctic char.

Most of the land in Nunavut is frozen much of the year. This is why Nunavut's growing season is very short and the plants are small. Nunavut has less precipitation than areas of the Sahara Desert. Hunting and fishing are an important part of life in Nunavut.

Snowmobiles are one of the main ways to travel in Nunavut. Airplanes bring food, dairy products, machinery and people to areas where it is difficult to travel. In Nunavut, almost every community has its own airport!

A famous person from Nunavut is Pitseolak Ashoona. She was an Inuit artist who made drawings, prints and sculptures. She received the Order of Canada in 1977.

Thinking About: Nunavut

Match the phrases to make true sentences.

1. Nunavut means, "our land"

is frozen much of the year.

2. Nunavut became Canada's newest

Populated places on Earth.

3. Most of the land in Nunuvut

in the Inuit language, Inuktitut.

4. Nunavut is one the least

a part of the Northwest Territories.

5. Iqaluit is the capital

territory on April 1, 1999.

6. Nunavut used to be

city of Nunavut.

What are three interesting facts about Nunavut?

1.

2.

3.