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Inuit have occupied a large part of Canada for thousands of years. Nunavut’s direct translation means ‘our land’ and Nunavut makes up a large percentage of Canada’s land mass. Inuit also live in other places outside of Nunavut. There are four distinct Inuit Land Claims in Canada including (see map);
· Inuvialuit (which is within the Northwest Territory)
· Nunavut (its own distinct Territory)
· Nunavik (within the province of Quebec)
· Nunatsiavut (within Labrador)
Download Inuit Regions and Communities map produced by Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami.
In this activity students will appreciate the vastness of the Inuit lands in Canada.
The folk song, ‘This land is your Land’, is an American song. However, a Canadian version has been sung in Canadian schools for many years. The lyrics of the song are below if you don’t know it.
This land is your land, This land is my land,
From Bonavista, to Vancouver Island
From the Arctic Circle to the Great Lakes waters,
This land was made for you and me.
1. Play the song for your students and identify the place names sung in the song in this version. Canada truly is from sea, to sea, to sea.
2. Once your students are familiar with the song and the Kitikmeot (through the opener activity) challenge your class to re-write the chorus for the Kitikmeot region using the traditional and European names to get them more familiar with the geography. Find a brave volunteer to sing their version to the rest of the class.
3. Print a copy of the map of Canada with the Inuit Land Claim Areas outlined. Have them write a verse for the vastness of Inuit lands within Canada.
4. Students who show an interest or who have completed their work could research Inuit lands on a global scale. The final verse of the song could have a version for Inuit lands in the circumpolar world.
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