Inuvialuit Settlement Region

Inuvialuit Settlement Region
Region
ISR communities
Inuvialuit Settlement Region Location of Inuvik, administrative capital
Coordinates: 68°21′42″N 133°43′50″W / 68.361667°N 133.730556°W / 68.361667; -133.730556Coordinates: 68°21′42″N 133°43′50″W / 68.361667°N 133.730556°W / 68.361667; -133.730556
Country	Canada
Territory	Northwest Territories
Territory	Yukon
Inuvialuit Final Agreement	1984
Subregions	List Beaufort Sea Mackenzie River delta Yukon North Slope Northwest portion of Northwest Territories Western Canadian Arctic Islands
Government
• Type	Board of Directors
• Chair	Nellie Cournoyea
Area
• Total	906,430 km2 (349,970 sq mi)
• Land	521,707.68 km2 (201,432.46 sq mi)
Lowest elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population (2006)[1]
• Total	5,767
• Density	0.006/km2 (0.02/sq mi)
Time zone	Mountain (MST) (UTC-7)
• Summer (DST)	MDT (UTC-6)
Website	Inuvialuit Regional Corporation

The Inuvialuit Settlement Region (ISR), located in Canada’s western Arctic, was designated in 1984 in the Inuvialuit Final Agreement by the Government of Canada for the Inuvialuit people. It spans 90,650 km² (35,000 sq mi), mostly above the tree line, and includes several subregions: the Beaufort Sea, the Mackenzie River delta, the northern portion of Yukon ("Yukon North Slope"), the northwest portion of Northwest Territories, and the western Canadian Arctic Islands.^[2] The ISR includes both Crown Lands and Inuvialuit Private Lands.

The ISR is one of the four Inuit regions of Canada, collectively known as Inuit Nunangat,^[3] represented by the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK). The other regions include Nunatsiavut in Labrador, Nunavik in northern Quebec, and the territory of Nunavut.^[4] The ISR is the homeland of the Inuvialuit. The Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, established in 1986 as the receiver of the lands and financial compensation of the Inuvialuit Final Agreement, is controlled by the Inuvialuit population and is responsible for ISR operations.^[5] As of 2013 Nellie Cournoyea, former Premier of the Northwest Territories, is the Chairman of the Board.^[6]

The Inuvialuit Settlement Region Database contains descriptions of thousands of publications and research projects about the ISR. It is maintained by the Joint Secretariat—Inuvialuit Renewable Resource Committees^[7] and the Arctic Science and Technology Information System. Funding comes from Shell Canada and MGM Energy.^[8]

Culture

In the 2006 Canada Census, the ISR population was 5,767 people, of which 3,115 were Inuvialuit and formed a majority in all six communities.^[1] There are no communities in the Yukon North Slope. Of the six communities in the ISR all are located in the Northwest Territories^[9] and, along with Fort McPherson and Tsiigehtchic, form the Inuvik Region.^[10]

Inuvik, located on the East Channel of the Mackenzie Delta, approximately 100 km (62 mi) from the Arctic Ocean, is the region's administrative centre, home to the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation. The only other inland community, Aklavik, is located on the Peel Channel and is home to Aurora College. Hunting, fishing and trapping are the major economic activities of Paulatuk, in Amundsen Gulf's Darnley Bay, and Sachs Harbour, the only permanent settlement on Banks Island. Tuktoyaktuk, formerly known as "Port Brabant", is set on Kugmallit Bay, near the Mackenzie River Delta. It has the only deepwater port in the ISR. Ulukhaktok, formerly known as "Holman", is located on the west coast of Victoria Island. Printmaking has taken over as the primary source of income in recent years.

English is spoken in the entire region. Additionally, Siglitun is spoken in Paulatuk, Sachs Harbour and Tuktoyaktuk. Uummarmiutun is spoken in Inuvik and Aklavik. Inuinnaqtun is spoken in Ulukhaktok and nowhere else in the Northwest Territories.^[11] Together they are grouped under Inuvialuktun.

Climate

Wildlife

Polar bears on the Beaufort Sea coast

Pingos near Tuktoyaktuk

The Inuvialuit Renewable Resource Conservation and Management Plan sets the strategy for fish and wildlife management and conservation.^[13] Integrated management planning of the region's marine and coastal areas is described in the Beaufort Sea Integrated Management Planning Initiative.^[14] Wildlife includes Arctic char, Arctic fox, beluga whale, bearded seal, bowhead whale, caribou, moose, muskox, polar bear, ringed seal, and whitefish.^[15]

Migratory bird management within the ISR is handled by policies, principles, and regulations described in the Conservation of Migratory Birds in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region report.^[16]

Protected areas

There are several protected parks and bird sanctuaries in the ISR. There are five parks: Aulavik National Park, Herschel Island Territorial Park, Ivvavik National Park, Pingo National Landmark, and Tuktut Nogait National Park. There are also four bird sanctuaries: Anderson River Delta Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Banks Island No. 1 Bird Sanctuary, Cape Perry Migratory Bird Sanctuary, and Kendall Island Migratory Bird Sanctuary^[17]

Natural resources

The ISR's Inuvialuit Private Lands are divided into those where the Inuvialuit own surface and subsurface minerals, or those lands with only surface rights.^[18] The area is rich in non-renewable hydrocarbon resources.^[19] There are proven commercial quantities of natural gas, nickel, petroleum, and zinc.^[15]

References

External links

• Map
• Inuvialuit Regional Corporation
• Yukon ISR Lands