The area that is now the Northwest Territories
was part of the vast lands sold by the Hudson's Bay Company
to the new Canadian confederation.
Some of the lands were given to the provinces
of Quebec and Ontario.
The province of Manitoba was created from them in 1870,
the Yukon Territory separated in 1898.
Alberta and Saskatchewan
were created in 1905.
The borders remained fixed until the creation of Nunavut in 1999.
Today, the area remaining is 532643 mi² (1379028 km²).
The Northwest Territories lie west of Nunavut,
north of latitude 60 ° N,
and east of Yukon.
Approximately 45 thousand people
live in the Northwest Territories.
Approximately 50% are Aboriginal.
When European explorations into the area began,
they encountered the hunting and fishing Inuit and Dene.
Given the rich oral tradition of Aboriginal
languages, more people speak an
Aboriginal language than read and write it.
The Northwest Territories's
Official Languages Act recognizes more official languages
than any other political division in the Americas.
There are 11:
Chipewyan
Cree
English
French
Gwichin
Inuinnaqtun
Inuktitut
Inuvialuktun
North Slavey
South Slavey
Tlicho |
Northwest Territories
residents have the right to use any of the above languages in a
territorial court and in debates and proceedings of the legislature.
However, laws are legally binding only in their
French and English versions.
WEATHER
The Northwest Territories
climate is cold but relatively dry.
There are warm, sunny summers,
in which temperatures reach 35 ° C (95 ° F),
and long, bitter winters,
with temperatures as low as -45 ° C (-49 ° F).
Two major climatic zones, the arctic and sub arctic,
divide the Northwest Territories at the tree line
into 2 almost equal parts.
Both regions have extremely cold and long winters,
During the long, cold winter,
temperatures often reach -50 ° C (-60 ° F)
in both zones.
The arctic climate has a shorter and cooler summer,
with the average monthly temperature remaining
below 10 ° C (50 ° F).
The sub~arctic climate has a longer and warmer summer,
with at least 3 months having average monthly
temperatures exceeding 10 ° C.
Blizzards and whiteouts occur frequently
during the winter months.
In these frigid lands north of the tree line,
summer may bring only a few warm days.
With such a short summer, tree growth is not possible.
Precipitation is low, often less than 100 mm (4 in),
and most occurs in the summer.
ECONOMY
The Northwest Territories Chamber of Commerce
is the North's only pan~territorial voice for business,
boasting representation from every region of the Northwest Territories.
The Chamber works to promote and create business opportunity;
to foster business development;
and serves as a conduit for professional business
relations between our members,
territorial, national and international governments.
The territory enjoys vast geological resources including
diamonds, gold, and natural gas.
Vast resources and low population
give the Northwest Territories
the highest per capita GDP
of all provinces or territories in Canada.
It would rank 1st in the world if it were considered as
its own country.
Minerals are now the Northwest Territories' most valuable natural resource.
Oil is pumped and refined, copper is extracted,
and diamonds and gold are being produced in increasing quantities.
The region has tungsten, silver, cadmium, and nickel.
Important hydro~electric developments are underway.
Trapping is the region's oldest industry.
It ranks 2nd after mining.
A thriving commercial fishing industry is based on whitefish and
lake trout.
Agriculture in the Northwest Territories
is virtually impossible except for limited cultivation south of the
Mackenzie River region.
SCHOOLS
Education, Culture and Employment is a department of
the Northwest Territories
government that deals with
different aspects of education and schools,
the culture of its peoples, and jobs and employment in
the Northwest Territories.
Language is an important element in
people, maintaining or enhancing their
cultural diversity. Education programs and
services, therefore, must be culturally appropriate.
The Department is
committed to maintaining excellence in
education by consulting and working with
self~governing bodies on their opinions
and opportunities as they fulfill their
mandates and responsibilities.
The Education Act to permits
the formation of Divisional Boards of Education,
replacing a centralized system
of governance.
Through the creation of
District Education Authorities and
Divisional Education Councils,
parents and other community members
serve as elected representatives, formulate
policy and make decisions that guide and
direct schools across the Northwest Territories.
Currently, 33 District Education Authorities
govern schools in the Northwest Territories.
There are fewer than 50 public schools
in the Northwest Territories.
Of these, 11 have less
than 60 students enrolled.
Just under 10 thousand students are
enrolled in kindergarten through Grade 12
in the Northwest Territories,
representing approximately 22% of
the overall population of the Northwest Territories.
The College Services section within the College and
Career Development Division supports the
delivery of adult and post secondary
programs in the Northwest Territories.
Services include:
- Coordination of adult
literacy and basic education
programs through
implementation of the
Literacy and Adult Basic
Education Directive, the Northwest Territories
Adult Basic Education
Curricula, and the Northwest Territories
Literacy Strategy.
- Coordination of the Teacher
Education Strategy and
related services, including
the Teacher Induction
Program, Aboriginal Language
and Cultural Instructor
Certificate Program,
Interpreter/Translator
training, and part~time
Bachelor of Education course
delivery.
- Coordination of funding,
program planning, and
support services to Aurora
College for adult literacy
and basic education; trades,
technical, and skill
training; and career
programs.
- Reporting on adult and
postsecondary programs and
services through the
biennial Post secondary
Indicators Report.
For more details please contact the
Northwest Territories Department of Education.
HOSPITALITY
Starkly beautiful, powerful and immense,
the northern world
is still wild and pristine.
Nature rules here, in a diversity of landscapes ranging from
towering mountains to rolling tundra, from sea~coast to
boggy low~lands and boreal forests.
For your next vacation, raft, kayak or canoe a
legendary Northwest Territories river,
or plan a boating adventure on 1 of the
largest and deepest lakes in the world.
The Northwest Territories's
treasures include several of
Canada's greatest rivers, biggest lakes and most important
National Parks.
Rare wildlife roams free, and millions of birds migrate
through the Mackenzie Valley.
Aboriginal tradition thrives in communities built on a rich fur~trade,
exploration and mining heritage.
Small and widely scattered, they're linked by roads,
rivers or bush airlines that all converge on Yellowknife.
Planning ahead is the smart way to make sure you have an enjoyable Northwest Territories vacation.
Reliable, practical, up~to~date information is essential.
Find out how to get here, how to get around, where to stay,
and what to do.
In the Northwest Territories,
you'll find a surprising range of comfortable accommodations.
Choose between an array of modern hotels,
motels, inns and friendly bed & breakfasts,
while even the smallest communities
offer a guest~house, motel, or inn.
Most of our hotels,
motels and inns are small but comfortable and well equipped.
Wilderness lodges range from basic to luxurious.
If you prefer to camp, you'll find good campgrounds in
public and private parks.
For more details please contact
Northwest Territories Tourism.
NEWS
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