Claiming Nunavut

About the Book

The Nunavut Land Claims Agreement became law in 1993. Claiming Nunavut traces the Nunavut Inuit Land Claim from its roots in 1971 to the birth of Nunavut in 1999. From the mid 1500's onwards, the Inuit of Canada's Eastern Arctic began to experience the effects of colonialism in their homeland. This began with early European explorers and traders and eventually, in the 1960's led to police services, a military presence, and money economy, and the herding of Inuit into small settlements.

Negative colonial influences eventually led to the formation of the Inuit Tapirisat in 1971 and the desire for Inuit to create Nunavut, a new Territory and the first change to the map of Canada since 1949. Inuit succeeded in their negotiations, and the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement was passed through Canadian Parliament in 1993. This passing decreed that Nunavut would be formed in 1999. This book traces the Inuit lobby from 1971-1993 and the implementation of Nunavut from 1993-1999. This is the story of the Inuit who were at the forefront of this massive undertaking.

Nunavut is the first and only modern day treaty in Canada that calls for a new Territory. This is a direct result of the Inuit desire to have the ability to manage their land and resources in a way that reflects Inuit values and tradition.

The author, Stephen Mercer, lived in Nunavut from 1989 to 2003 and was fortunate to know many of the main personalities on a personal basis.

About the Author

Steve was born in Belfast Northern Ireland and immigrated to Canada in 1969. After spending his youth in Guelph Ontario, he graduated from Guelph and Mount Allison Universities. In 1989 he moved to Cambridge Bay NWT where he was married and raised two children.

The Nunavut Land Claims Agreement was completed in 1993 and the Nunavut Territory created in 1999. Steve was a government bureaucrat for many years during the final years of negotiations and then implementation of the Claim and eventual formation of the new Nunavut Territory.

Steve moved to Southern Ontario in 2003 after spending thirteen plus years in the NWT and Nunavut as a public servant. This is the story of Claiming Nunavut, the unrelenting Inuit lobby for self-determination, 1971 to 1993, and the creation of the new Nunavut Territory, 1993-1999.