Creating Canada’s largest territory

For generations, Inuit communities lived across the Arctic, travelling with the seasons and relying on the land. But in the mid-20th century, Canadian government policies, including relocations, moved many into permanent settlements, reshaping their way of life.

In the 1970s, a new generation of Inuit activists launched a movement to reclaim control over their land and push for greater autonomy.

In 1999, the newly created Nunavut territory gained its own government.

Sam Gruet speaks to Inuit politician and activist Paul Quassa about the fight to regain control over their land, the long negotiations with the federal government, and the moment he felt the campaign had succeeded.

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(Photo: Person Walking in Cambridge Bay. Credit: Arctic Images via Getty Images)