Territorial North - Part ATerritorial North - Part A

GEG 2109 - 2003GEG 2109 - 2003

A Regional Geography of CanadaA Regional Geography of Canada

Chapter 10Chapter 10

-David Burhoe-David Burhoe

Chapter 10- Territorial North AChapter 10- Territorial North A

Part A: Physical & Part A: Physical & Historical RegionalismHistorical Regionalism

Part B: Dualistic Part B: Dualistic Population & EconomyPopulation & Economy

Land Claims, Land Claims, Megaprojects, and Megaprojects, and Sustainable Sustainable DevelopmentDevelopment

Traditional Copper Dress –NWT

On many maps, stamps, weather maps, the High Arctic is absent

Landforms -Territorial North Landforms -Territorial North

Pingos or frost moundsat left

These two landforms are derived from the interaction of cold and warm Arctic seasons

The Dorset people arrived in small boatsduring the Ice Ages along the Beringia land bridge.The Thule people arrived MUCH later but outlived the Dorsets.

Copyright: Maureen Flynn-Burhoe 1994

SW Alaska Copper

Baffin

Greenland

Quebec

Arctic Cultural GroupsThule

N Alaska

Aleuts

Inuktitut Alphabet in Syllabics 1890s

Traditionally, villages were highly mobilein relation to the dictates of nature

In Winter, villages were large and social life active and hospitable.In spring, snow houses melted and families migrated inland to fresh water, caribou & fish using heavy spring tents.In summer, light tents were sufficient and fish and meat were dried for winter

There is a rich history in the Arctic before contact with the Europeans began 1576 with Martin Frobisher

Frobisher took Inuitback with him to England so his returntrips were NOT welcomed

HistoricalDeterminants

The Highway North- MacKenzieThe Highway North- MacKenzie

Sir John Franklin, naval officer, arctic explorer died 11 June 1847 aboard Sir John Franklin, naval officer, arctic explorer died 11 June 1847 aboard HMS HMS ErebusErebus, in Victoria Str, NWT, 20 years after mapping the MacKenzie , in Victoria Str, NWT, 20 years after mapping the MacKenzie and Coppermine Rivers by canoe – crew 105 perished during marchand Coppermine Rivers by canoe – crew 105 perished during march

• In polynyas, marine flora and fauna are most abundant, in a finely-tuned ecological balance

(Top: Fur traders across from Fort Nelson Post.)In the Arctic, the fur tradelasted 100 years anddominated economicactivities until 1950. But,it created a dependency ontrade goods.

Europeans establishedHBC posts at Fort Nelson, Moose Factoryand Inuit traded fursfor guns, ammunition,pots, lamps

Fur trade at MooseFactory, ON 1880

Hudson Bay Company, Moose Factory, ON (1800)Subsequent attempts to est.permanent posts on James Bay east (Chisasibi)were not economically successful and closed

Fort Churchill, MB (1790)became trading postfor Arctic furs and supplyingInuit hunters/fishers

Factory for extracting whale oil 1880

The first whalers (1820-1840) left at end of each season,but after 1850 beganto “winter over” and build permanentbases

Whale baleenstockpile 1830and its European uses

1882

Canada negotiated to buy Rupert’s Landfrom Britain in 1870 for 300,000 pounds

1791

Southern Laws and Southern CultureSouthern Laws and Southern Culture The fur traders and the whalers changed the balance of The fur traders and the whalers changed the balance of

power: First, the HBC controlled the fur economy.power: First, the HBC controlled the fur economy. Then came the church, Anglican and Roman Catholic Then came the church, Anglican and Roman Catholic

(1860s) that profoundly impacted Aboriginal culture that (1860s) that profoundly impacted Aboriginal culture that was based on awe and respect for all. was based on awe and respect for all.

Then came the North West Mounted Police (1890s) and a Then came the North West Mounted Police (1890s) and a new European system of laws. new European system of laws.

After the purchase of Rupert’s Land (1869), Britain After the purchase of Rupert’s Land (1869), Britain transferred the Arctic Islands to Canada (1880) and transferred the Arctic Islands to Canada (1880) and established governance from Ottawa. established governance from Ottawa.

The Yukon formed the first territorial government (1898) as The Yukon formed the first territorial government (1898) as its population rose to 30,000 in the Klondike. its population rose to 30,000 in the Klondike.

The Aboriginal population lost its traditional language, The Aboriginal population lost its traditional language, cultural customs and beliefs, its land-based economy.cultural customs and beliefs, its land-based economy.

Only after WWII did it receive attention: a strategic military Only after WWII did it receive attention: a strategic military importance and as a resource frontier for Norman Wells oil importance and as a resource frontier for Norman Wells oil from the NWT through the Yukon to Alaska (1944). from the NWT through the Yukon to Alaska (1944).

The NWT Act 1909 & The NWT Act 1909 & Carrothers Commission 1966Carrothers Commission 1966

Northern awakening of north after WWII with Cold Northern awakening of north after WWII with Cold War need for radar system after 1955.War need for radar system after 1955.

Exclusively federal administrators of entire NWTExclusively federal administrators of entire NWT Power resides in Minister of the North, advised by Power resides in Minister of the North, advised by

administrators most of whom have never had administrators most of whom have never had Northern experienceNorthern experience

Seat of government in Ottawa (ie. Colonial form of Seat of government in Ottawa (ie. Colonial form of government)government)

Commissioner appointed (not elected) by fed govCommissioner appointed (not elected) by fed gov

Division of political powers in the Division of political powers in the NWT government as of 1970NWT government as of 1970

FederalFederal - Administration of land claims by indigenous people- Administration of land claims by indigenous people

- Appointment of judges- Appointment of judges

- Defence- Defence

- Energy- Energy

- Archaeology/anthropology- Archaeology/anthropology

- Environmental protection- Environmental protection

- Health of indigenous peoples- Health of indigenous peoples

- Police services- Police services- Est. of the seat of governmentEst. of the seat of government- 5-yr financial agreements between Ott. & NWT5-yr financial agreements between Ott. & NWT

territorialterritorial - “hire North” in MacKenzie highway project- “hire North” in MacKenzie highway project

- Airstrips- Airstrips- Education of indigenous peoplesEducation of indigenous peoples

Source: Hamelin: Nordicity: It’s your North too (1979)Source: Hamelin: Nordicity: It’s your North too (1979)

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

NB: Territorial North Continued in Part B.NB: Territorial North Continued in Part B.

Images: Coppermine couple, Inuit Cultural groups of Images: Coppermine couple, Inuit Cultural groups of Canada, US and Greenland; whales; polynyas; tundra; Canada, US and Greenland; whales; polynyas; tundra; taiga; Mackenzie River; Map and chart of nordicity; from taiga; Mackenzie River; Map and chart of nordicity; from Canadian Encyclopedia Deluxe Edition 1999, CD-ROM Canadian Encyclopedia Deluxe Edition 1999, CD-ROM resource Collection, McClelland & Stewart Publishersresource Collection, McClelland & Stewart Publishers

Images: Iqaluit 2002-2003; airport; throatsingers; Images: Iqaluit 2002-2003; airport; throatsingers; sculptor William Noah; art of Jessie Oonark; personal sculptor William Noah; art of Jessie Oonark; personal collection of Maureen Flynn-Burhoe.collection of Maureen Flynn-Burhoe.

Inuktitut Syllabic alphabet from Canadian Encyclopedia Inuktitut Syllabic alphabet from Canadian Encyclopedia Deluxe Edition 1999, CD-ROM resource Collection, Deluxe Edition 1999, CD-ROM resource Collection, McClelland & Stewart Publishers, Land of the Inuit.McClelland & Stewart Publishers, Land of the Inuit.