Conference kaosws::canada

538.0. "The Northwest Territories (NWT) Note" by OOLONG::ENGLISH (Tom English, ERICA development) Tue Dec 31 1991 20:03

As a longtime reader of this conference, i have always found it strange that in
the whole conference there is scarcely one reference to the largest chunk of
land in the whole country - the Northwest Territories.  So i'm adding this note
to see if anyone else out there has anything to say on the subject.

I visited NWT in the summer of 1982 on a rather long vacation.  It's got to be
one of the most scenic regions of Canada, and virtually undiscovered - a true
traveler's paradise.  It's right up there with Alberta, British Columbia, and
the Yukon, in my opinion.  Maybe its mountains aren't as high as those in the
AB/BC/YT Canadian Rockies, but the forests, lakes, and rivers (especially the
Mackenzie) are the equal of those anywhere else.

I'd love to compare travel notes with anyone else who's been to NWT, but my
other reason for opening this topic is to find out more about the pending
legislation that would create a new territory to be called Nunavak and cede a
fair portion of it to the Inuit, granting them more autonomy.  As i understand
it, Ottawa would also be granting some money to the people there.  On the face
of it, it seems like the best deal that the Natives have ever gotten from the
government, but it's bound to generate some controversy.

A recent Newsweek magazine here in the US devoted a page or two to the issue,
without going into much detail.  Does anybody know more about the politics
behind it?

"North to the Future",
									TomE

P.S.  Congratulations Sarnians on number .500!

I heard on the news the other day that the people of the NWT were about to vote
on the issue of the creation of the new territory of Nunavut (sp?).  Has anyone
heard what the result of this vote was?

									TomE

    I think the vote was about 60/40 in favour of creating a new territory. 
    I don't know if the plebicite (sp?) was just to gather public opinion
    or if it is binding on anyone.  I haven't seen anything that said 
    
    "New territory to be effect on ..."
    
    Regards