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Nunavut Facts & Worksheets

Nunavut is a massive, sparsely populated territory of northern Canada, forming most of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago.

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Nunavut is a massive, sparsely populated territory of northern Canada, forming most of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Its islands have expanses of tundra, craggy mountains and remote villages, accessible only by plane or boat. It’s known for its indigenous Inuit people’s artwork, carvings and handmade clothing. Inuit art is displayed at the Nunatta Sunakkutaangit Museum in the capital, Iqaluit, on Baffin Island.

See the fact file below for more information on the Nunavut or alternatively, you can download our 21-page Nunavut worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

HISTORY AND SETTLEMENT

  • Nunavut is a relatively new province in Canada, having separated from the Northwest Territories on April 1, 1999.
  • Indigenous populations began inhabiting present-day Nunavut about 4,000 years ago.
  • Recent excavations have indicated that European traders and settlers lived on Baffin Island (an island in Nunavut) for a prolonged period of time (no later than 1000 CE).
  • The first written records began in 1576 with Martin Frobisher’s Northwest Passage expedition. He thought he discovered gold near the coast of Baffin Island. He also made contact with the Inuit groups.
  • During the Cold War, Nunavut was seen as a strategic position on the global scale, so the Canadian government relocated Inuit groups, who eventually died in their new location.
  • Discussions about the division of the Northwest Territories began in the 1950’s. Land claim issues prevented any forward momentum until September 1992, with a land claims agreement passed on July 9, 1993.
  • The territory of Nunavut was established on April 1, 1999, and came with it a population surge of 27%.

GEOGRAPHY, CLIMATE, AND DEMOGRAPHICS

  • Nunavut is massive, covering over 733,000 square miles of land and water, including the mainland and several small islands.
  • The territory sits on the Canadian Shield with very little soil lying on top of the bedrock. To the east lie mountains, and almost the entire region is covered with Arctic tundra.
  • Some vegetation in Nunavut includes lichens, Arctic willows (pictured to the right), moss, rare berries, and small, tough grasses and shrubs.
  • As you would expect, due to its northerly location, the climate in Nunavut is bitterly cold with cool Summers. It lies entirely within the Arctic climatic zone.
  • There is very little precipitation (with the exception of some rain in the eastern regions). Permafrost underlies almost the entire territory.
  • Since Nunavut lies above the northern limit of tree growth, almost all plant life is small and tough; it supports the various wildlife that live there such as caribou, musk oxen, red and Arctic foxes, wolves, polar bears, and grizzly bears.
  • In the water, you are likely to find seals and walrus, and a variety of whales.
  • The Inuit make up approximately 85% of the population in Nunavut.
  • Several dialects of the language of the Inuit are widely spoken around the territory, which recognizes Inuinnaqtun as one of the territory’s four main languages.
  • Nunavut is one of the most sparsely populated habitable regions on Earth, with small settlements located mostly in coastal areas.
  • Although sparsely populated, the growth rate of Nunavut has been above the Canadian average for years, partly due to high birth rates.
  • Anglican and Roman Catholics are the dominant religions in the area, accounting for 58% and 23% of the total Christian population.

ECONOMY AND CULTURE

  • Nunavut has vast reserves of iron, precious metals, and diamonds.
  • In addition, Nunavut’s economy is bolstered by its abundance of petroleum and natural gas.
  • As expected, transporting these materials can be difficult due to the territory’s location, and the cost associated with transportation.
  • Fishing and hunting are popular traditional activities, with carcasses being sold to buyers around the country. The sport of hunting and fishing attracts many tourists to the territory each year.
  • Mining is a very profitable and ever-expanding industry in Nunavut, with three major mines in operation in the territory.
  • Many homes in Nunavut run on diesel fuel, and they receive fossil fuel shipments via plane or boat due to a lack of roads and railway links to the territory.
  • The Canadian government has been pushing for the introduction of more renewable energy sources, and this has been mostly supported by local communities.
  • Nunavut takes part in the Arctic Winter Games.
  • Indigenous musical forms include Inuit throat singing, bluegrass music, and square dancing.
  • The Nunavut car license plate features a polar bear, inukshuk, (pictured to the left) and the northern lights, which is a sight on many traveller’s bucket lists.
  • The threats arising from global warming and climate change have been prevalent in Nunavut.

Nunavut Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about Nunavut across 21 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Nunavut worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Nunavut which is a massive, sparsely populated territory of northern Canada, forming most of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Its islands have expanses of tundra, craggy mountains and remote villages, accessible only by plane or boat. It’s known for its indigenous Inuit people’s artwork, carvings and handmade clothing. Inuit art is displayed at the Nunatta Sunakkutaangit Museum in the capital, Iqaluit, on Baffin Island.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Historical Connections
  • Arctic Animals
  • Nunavut Wordsearch
  • Coat of Arms
  • Nunavut Crossword
  • History of the Inukshuk
  • Mapping Nunavut
  • The Inuit Lifestyle
  • Weather Data in Nunavut
  • Nunavut Coloring Page

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Link will appear as Nunavut Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, April 9, 2019

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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