Transcript Slide 1
Nunavut
This rock statue is called an
inuksuk
. (in-uk-suk) Inuit use them as directional markers and landmarks. “
Inuk
” means person and “
suk
” means substitute.
It is meant to
symbolize a person pointing travelers in the right direction
.
In
1999
Nunavut becomes Canada ’s official
3 rd territory
.
Nunavut: Land
Nunavut means “our land” in Inuktitut.
It makes up 21.3% of Canada’s total area (largest part of Canada) It is an Arctic Archipelago (cluster of islands).
Mountainous and rocky The Canadian Archipelago (Arctic Archipelago) is the largest in the world. It accounts for most of Nunavut ’s size
Some areas are covered by ice sheets 2 km thick.
Lots of valleys, frozen lakes, and costal fjords, caused by glaciers. Fjord: A narrow inlet of the sea between cliffs or steep slopes.
Nunavut has very rocky, mountainous terrain
The Regions of Nunavut
Nunavut has three major regions:
1.Baffin Region https://www.youtube.com/watch?v
=Mi0TACqvc88
Cities and towns include: a) Iqaluit b) Pond Inlet c) Clyde River d) Eureka e) Alert
Eureka
Note: Alert is the most northern settlement in the world. It has only 5 permanent residents. Alert is also used for military and research. Note: Eureka is located on Ellesmere Island and is primarily used as a military base and satellite/ radio monitoring
Alert
2. Keewatin Region: Cities and Towns Include:
a) Chesterfield Inlet b) Repulse Bay c) Rankin Inlet
3. Kitikmeot Region: Include:
a) Cambridge Bay b) Bathurst Inlet
Purple Saxifrage
Nunavut ’s
official
is
flower
.
It is one of the few plants that will grow in the Canadian north.
S
ource of food
(Inuit) Sweet tasting flower – (Eat it raw or boil it in water - creates a sweet liquid).
Nunavut: Climate
Climate is h
arsh.
Winters winds
are
long and cold
(-40 ° C) with
strong
Summers
are
short and cool
the summer is not uncommon.
(+/-10 ° C). Frost in No precipitation
(Polar desert)
.
Vegetation
Very few plants are able to survive (harsh climate).
Tundra vegetation consists:
Small bushes Patches of grass Mosses Lichens Some flowers
NO trees
Population
Total area
of
1.9 million km 2
.
Approx.
30 000
inhabitants
Iqaluit (capital city)
has a little over
6,200
inhabitants
. Over
85%
of Nunavut ’s population is
Inuit
.
Quebec has an area of 1.3 million km 2 and has almost 8 million people.
Government
Premier is the Honourable PETER TAPTUNA (since 2013).
N
arwhal
is a
sea animal with a long tusk on it ’s face.
+/-
4m-6m in length
Weighs up to 1.6 tons
Live
+/-
50 years
Source of food (Inuit)
Tusks - used to make tools & weapons
.
Language and Education TODAY
Inuit kids go to public school. They speak English or French &
Inuktitut (Inuit language)
.
Also
trying to protect their culture (like Qc)
.
PAST
Knowledge was passed down orally from elders to grandchildren; kids did not attend schools
Inuit Clothing
Traditional clothing comes from animal skins, intestines or furs.
These parts retained heat and were
waterproof
Getting wet/not wearing proper clothing in the arctic is very dangerous...can lead to death.
Shelter and Transportation
Traditionally, they lived in skin tents or mud houses (summer) and in igloos
(winter).
Today they live in wooden, permanent houses.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v
=uB4JGUzve6M
Different modes of transportation are either traditional or modern.
Modern: snowmobiles, ATV ’s and trucks
Traditional: dog-sled, kayak
, and
umiaq
(row boat)
Sources of Food
Inuit diet is made up of meat and fish & edible plants. Most Inuit will hunt or fish.
Food sources: narwhal, polar bear, seal, caribou, musk ox, and whale. This diet gives them lots of energy (very important in the North).
WEAPONS
PAST
Harpoon – Used it to hunt large animals.
3 main parts
: The shaft, head, and rope.
Harpoon head stabs animal & rope is used to pull body towards you.
TODAY
High-powered rifles Harpoons
Inuit Diet
Diet consists mostly of meat - provides
them with the
energy
needed to
survive
the Arctic. in
Edible plants
saxifrage - purple
Hunting in Nunavut
Hunting is the main source of acquiring
food in Nunavut.
Today the Inuit can buy food in general stores, but most still hunt.
Main hunting ground for the Inuit was on pack ice and ice floes.
Inuit hunted larger animals (ex: whales and seals) on sea ice.
Inuit hunting weapons
:
a) H
arpoon and spear
(larger animals)
b) Bow and arrows, clubs, and knives
animals) (smaller
c) Bolas
were
used to hunt birds
. A Bola is a small net with bone beads attached to it.
Polar Bear hunting
It is a traditional food source for the Inuit.
Inuit eat its meat and use its skin to make clothing.
Claws and bones are used to make tools & weapons.
In the past:
Used harpoons & bow and arrows to kill polar bears.
Today:
Use high powered rifles.
Today, tourists also hunt Polar bears.
American
adventure travelers will pay up to $30,000 for the chance to kill a polar bear
.
Hunters will
keep the skin or head
body thrown out).
as a trophy(rest of
Gov ’t of Canada
set yearly
quotas
bears allowed to be hunted).
(how many polar
Debate: Polar Bear Hunting
Almost
80% Nunavut
.
of all
Polar Bears killed are in
Each year, the Government of Nunavut sets the
quota
for the number Polar Bears allowed to be hunted (+/-500) Experts believe Polar Bears will go on the endangered species list for these 2 reasons: a) b) High hunting quota Dying from a lack of food due to global warming
Seal hunting
Seal are killed for their skin, blubber, & meat.
The Inuit use seals for food and use their skin and bones to make clothing and tools.
The Inuit still use clubs, harpoons, and hakapiks to kill them.
Seals are
hunted for 3 reasons: a) b) c) Food Balancing out its population Make products we buy in stores
.
Clothing companies
sell seal skin products (Ex: Versace, Gucci, Tommy Hilfiger).
Controversy: Seal Hunting
Sealing
is mostly done in the Canadian north.
Canadian Gov ’t is criticized for allowing
sealing
continue.
to It sets yearly q
uotas (a fixed number )
approximately 300 000 seals.
at
Canada is also criticized by animal rights groups for allowing sealers to use hakapiks to kill seals.
It is considered a
brutal method
because seals are beaten to death with these weapons.
Canadian Government argues: a) b)
c)
Beating is painless Sealing balances out its population in the North
Sealing is
good for our economy
every year).
($25 million
Greenland Facts
81% of its surface is covered by an ice sheet.
Heavy ice sheet
has pushed the surface
300m below sea level
.
World ’s largest island
Population: 60 000
What does Greenland & Nunavut have in common?
1.
2.
Large native population (Kalaallisut) Both natives groups:
a) b) c) Live similar lifestyles rely on hunting & fishing Use sea ice & land glaciers to hunt
3.
4.
Both territories have the same
climate
&
vegetation
Ice melt due to GLOBAL WARMING.
Global Warming: The Basics
It is a gradual, natural increase in the overall temperature of the earth's atmosphere
Greenhouse gases
are created by: a) Using large amounts of energy b) Burning of fossil fuels
What is speeding up the process of Global Warming?
a) b) c) Greenhouse Gases Pollution Deforestation
What are the effects of
global warming
in Nunavut?
1.
2.
3.
4.
Sea ice for hunting is disappearing.
Marine mammals and animals that use the ice will disappear. Inuit will loose valuable food sources.
Inuit communities will disappear.
5.
6.
7.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Some General effects of Global Warming
Extreme Weather (Hurricane Sandy) Sea level rise Flooding or Drought Loss of drinkable water Decreased food supplies Loss of many animal species Cost for many products (food, electricity, etc.) will increase.