The Nunavut Act and Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act, enacted in 1993 and 1993 respectively, are two important pieces of legislation governing the establishment of the Canadian territory of Nunavut and the recognition of Inuit land rights.
The Nunavut Act provided for the creation of the territory of Nunavut, which officially came into existence on April 1, 1999. Prior to that date, the area was part of the Northwest Territories.
The Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act, also known as the Nunavut Agreement, was signed in 1993 between the federal government of Canada, the government of the Northwest Territories, and the Inuit of the Nunavut Settlement Area. The agreement recognized the Inuit as the Aboriginal people of the Nunavut Settlement Area, and provided for the settlement of their land claims.
Under the Nunavut Agreement, the Inuit received title to 356,000 square kilometers of land, as well as $1.14 billion in compensation. In addition, the Inuit were granted the right to participate in the management and development of the natural resources in the settlement area.
The Nunavut Agreement also established a new form of government for the territory of Nunavut, known as the Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (NTI), which represents the Inuit in matters related to the agreement.
The Nunavut Act and the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act are important examples of how the Canadian government has sought to recognize and address the historical injustices experienced by Indigenous peoples. By providing for the establishment of Nunavut and the recognition of Inuit land rights, these two acts have paved the way for a more just society in Canada.
