The Territorial North Flashcards
What are the 4 principle characteristic of The Territorial North?
- Far from world markets
- Resource development is dependent on external demand
- Hampered by a cold environment
- Economy is sensitive to fluctuations in world prices for its resources. Very much a hinterland
How many First Nations languages were being spoken in Canada at time of confederation?
~55. Today there are essentially only 3!
What percentage of people in the Territorial North are Indigenous?
Over 50%
How much of Canada’s population is represented in The Territorial North?
0.3%
How much of Canada’s landmass does The Territorial North make up?
39%
How much of Canada’s GDP comes from The Territorial North?
0.3%
What is the unemployment rate in this region?
16%, compared to a national average which lies between 3%-5%!!!!!!!
What four physiographic regions comprise The Territorial North?
Canadian Shield
Interior Plains
Cordillera
Arctic
How much of the Territorial North is considered “Arctic”?
70%
What’s the population of The Territorial North?
Just over 100,000
What are the “Two Visions” that residents of this region possess?
They see it as a Northern Frontier (perhaps great wealth is waiting to be discovered)
They see it as a Homeland (where their culture, language, and spirituality can flourish)
What are the two climate zones that are found in the region?
Arctic
Subarctic
The amount of reflected energy changes with surface changes, especially at the poles or where snow and ice have traditionally dominated
The Albedo Effect
What percentage of the world’s diamond production comes from the region?
15%
What’s the problem with diamonds being a solid resource?
Non-renewable
Volatile market
Entire process of extraction, processing, and sale need to be done in the region for it to be economically beneficial
It’s really bad for the environment
Lifespan of the projects is generally “boom and bust”
How much of Nunavut’s revenue comes from Ottawa?
90%
What and where was the Klondike Gold Rush?
A gold rush in the Klondike corridor of what is now Yukon territory.
Started in 1896; Dawson City was established, as well as Yukon as a territory
What resource did Inuit have in the early 19th century that had good trade value?
Whale Hunting
Inuit became dependent on tools and weapons that they traded for with the British, which led to them becoming totally dependent on the goods and products they had
When did the first British Explorer reach Baffin Island?
Martin Frobisher in 1576
Him and his men captured an Inuit and brought them back to Europe to prove their findings
When did seasonal “whalers” first begin the practice of “wintering over” (allow their ships to freeze in the sea ice)?
1850s
Adopted by English, Scottish, and American whalers
When did missionaries and police begin living in the region?
What problems did they cause for the Indigenous?
They started living at trade posts permanently in the late 19th century
The presence of missionaries and police (RCMP) imposed Canada’s system of law and order on the Indigneous people.
Church-run residential schools were created by the missionaries, which had a long-lasting horrific and devastating effects on First Nations. They were taught English and French, and told to stop speaking their native languages.
Why was the “relocation” of Indigenous people a priority for Ottawa starting in the 1950s?
- It was seen as a necessary step in protective northern peoples form the hardships of their land (scarcity of food, extreme weather). There was world press that covered the topic of “starving Indians”, which pressured the federal government
- By concentrating settlements of people in the north, it was easier to send and provide services. The goal was to “modernize” the northern peoples and force them into Canadian society
What problems has the “relocation” created?
It created an unprecedented population explosion, which has resulted in a shortage of housing
Chronic underemployment
High suicide-rates, which have been influenced by deep-rooted social dysfunction from cultural dislocation and devaluation, no economic base
Dependence on social assistance for income
Is there a positive outcome of settlement life?
Yes, the emergence of educated Indigenous leaders
What purpose did The Territorial North serve during and after WW2?
A buffer zone between North America and the Soviet Union for military
Military bases, landing fields, and radar stations
Seen as a “strategic frontier”
Why should Canada care about the future of the Arctic Sea?
Global warming is freeing up the region by melting ice and creating new passage opportunities for shipping.
There is potential for oil deposits to be extracted from the Arctic Ocean
As fo 2011, what percentage of Indigenous people were Inuit?
52%
Why has tourism slightly increased in the region?
It’s one of the last places on earth to find truly pure, untouched, raw nature. Pristine wilderness
What sector do most people in the region work in?
Tertiary/service, at over 80%
How is the population of the region trending?
It’s increasing in every territory, with a growth of almost 28% between 2001-2015
What is notable about the Primary sector of workers in the region?
Unusually high percentage of workers belong to primary sector, at almost 15% (Compared to Ontario, at around 2%)
What industries could be sustainable for the region?
Tourism and Fishing
What are some recent and potential Megaprojects found in the region?
Diamond mines
Iron Ore mines
Underground open-pit lead, zinc, and copper mines (Unlikely to become viable)
Why can’t Megaprojects help boost regional diversification in the north?
They’re unsustainable, as they’re based on non-renewable resources
What are CLCA’s, and why are they beneficial for people in the region?
Comprehensive Land Claim Agreements aka Modern Treaties
CLCAs are negotiated in areas of the country where Aboriginal rights and title have not been addressed by historic treaties or other legal means, or where there remains outstanding disagreement around the terms of those treaties
these agreements usually include such things as land ownership and management, money, wildlife harvesting rights, participation in land, resource, water, wildlife and environmental management, and measures to support economic development and protect Aboriginal culture.
It gives people a connection to their old, harvesting-based world, and the global and Canadian economies at the same time.
