According to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the handover marks the beginning of a new, upheaval chapter in Nunavut’s history.
Canada has handed over control of the resource-rich arctic land to the territory of Nunavut, whose inhabitants are mainly indigenous to the country. The prime minister of the country Justin Trudeau According to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the transfer of land is the largest in Canadian history CBC.
Nunavut is home to Canada’s largest Inuit population. The territory of more than two million square kilometers is known for its valuable natural resources, such as diamonds, gold, gas and oil.
A signing ceremony was held on Thursday in Nunavut’s capital, Iqaluit, where Canada’s Prime Minister Trudeau signed the extradition agreement with Nunavut’s Prime Minister PJ Akeeago too with.
With the handover, Nunavut’s territorial administration gets the right to decide on the land and reserves, and at the same time the right to collect the revenue generated by the territory. Otherwise, the monetized reserves would go to the federal government of Canada.
– The Inuit have hunted, fished and lived in these areas for several generations, some long before the beginning of history. Today begins a new, upheaval chapter in Nunavut’s history, Trudeau said.
“This is our country”
Trudeau described the region as rich not only in culture and tradition, but also in critical minerals and other resources needed to build a future together.
According to Trudeau, the Nunavut government and its residents will have more decision-making power and wealth than before.
The management of the area has been negotiated for decades between Nunavut and the central government. The agreement is to be implemented in full within the next three years.
Nunavut is the last of Canada’s three Arctic territories to have land under its own control. Nunavut became a Canadian territory in 1999.
– This is our land and our reserve, now in our own hands, Nunavut Prime Minister Akeeagok said.
Former Prime Minister of Nunavut Joe Savikataaq however, change does not happen overnight.
– It will be a long process, Savikataaq commented to CBC.
– This is a new step in the growth of Nunavut.
Source: AFP