Nunavut is a vast region -- more than one-fifth of Canada's land mass and 40% of its coastline. It is also one of the world's most remote and uninhabited areas, but one that holds many rewards for the traveler willing to get off the beaten path. Arctic landscapes can be breathtaking, traditional Inuit villages retain age-old hunting and fishing ways, and the artwork of the North is famous worldwide. In almost every community, artists engage in weaving; print making; or stone, ivory, and bone carving. Locally produced artwork is available from community co-ops, galleries, or from the artists themselves.
Compared to most Indigenous languages, the Inuit language of Inuktitut is holding up strong. With more than 90% of Nunavummiut (residents of Nunavut) fluent Inuktitut speakers, it is the language of the street in most communities. The Nunavut government has made Inuktitut preservation a priority and plans to make it the working language of the region by 2020.
But while Nunavut Inuit are preserving ancient traditions, they are balancing this with a modern lifestyle, complete with cars, cable television, and Internet -- some communities even have cellphone capability.
