The Inunavut Handbook, 1998

Monika Rohlmann is an environmental/social consultant in Yellowknife,
Northwest Territories.

Nunavut, meaning “our land,” refers to the eastern half of the
Northwest Territories, which is set to become its own territory as of
April 1, 1999. Inhabited by 25,000 people, the majority of whom are of
Inuit ancestry, Nunavut has 28 communities spread across 1.9 million
square kilometres. One might wonder why a handbook would be useful in an
area so sparsely populated, with no roads between communities and a
landscape that’s covered in snow eight months of the year. But it is
exactly because of its isolation and harsh climate that adventure and
business travelers will appreciate knowing everything they can about a
culture and a climate that are foreign to most Canadians.

Detailed sections on the people, art, music, land, and wildlife give
basic information about the region. Next are chapters on trip planning,
travel, and outdoor activities that tell you about everything from bug
repellent to whether you need to wear a helmet while using an
all-terrain vehicle (Nunavut’s most popular mode of travel next to the
snowmobile). For those who would like to do some whale watching,
dogsledding, kayaking, camping, or anything else outdoors, there’s a
special section on each with recommendations on where and when to best
enjoy each sport. For the business traveler, there is a section on doing
business in Nunavut and a listing of common Inuktitut phrases.

The second half of the book lists each community by region and provides
information on community history, land and wildlife, accommodations,
restaurants, tours, shopping, and services such as banking, library
access, taxis, and snowmobile/ATV rental.

This compact and comprehensive handbook is a must-have for anyone
traveling into the region as well as for those interested in learning
about Canada’s newest territory.