HomeMy WebLinkAboutGoderich Signal Star, 2017-06-21, Page 1818 Signal Star • Wednesday, June 21, 2017
COAST-TO-COAST PRIDE r NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
OFFICIALLY
CANADIAN SINCE...
187
Canada purchased the expansive area owned by
the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) — Rupert's Land
and North-Western Territory — after six months of
gruelling negotiations that took place in London. As
a freshly formed nation, Canada was eager to expand
its borders both north and west, and simultaneously
wanted to prevent the U.S. from further expanding
(they'd already purchased Alaska from Russia a
few years earlier). Britain supported these efforts
and helped facilitate the transfer.
The lands acquired more than tripled Canada's
size. They encompassed all of modern-day Alberta,
Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Yukon, Northwest
Territories and Nunavut, as well as most of Northern
Ontario and Quebec. The land was purchased in 1869
for £300,000, and HBC kept the titles to various
trading posts and 5 per cent of the territory (mostly
farmland in the prairies).
However, the actual takeover was postponed
due to the Red River Rebellion led by Louis Riel.
As a result, appropriation only commenced on
July 15, 1$70. Upon Canada's acquisition of the
new region, the entire area — minus a small square -
sized lot around Winnipeg that was pronounced the
province of Manitoba -- became known as the North-
West Territories.
NOT TO BE MISSED
THE NORTHERN LIGHTS
The Aurora Borealis are visible in the Northwest
Territories up to 250 days a year. Being located
directly under the auroral oval allows for prime
viewing, and low humidity and limited light
pollution are also advantages. The Northern
Lights are most likely to be spotted in August and
September and again from November to April,
with peaks in the conditions that create the
lights occurring every eleven years.
DOGSLEDDING TOURS
At one time in the Northwest Territories, the only
way to travel over land in winter was by dogsled.
Nowadays, snowmobiling, driving and flying
have replaced this ancient method of getting
around Canada's northernmost places. However,
dogsledding hasn't completely disappeared. It's
become a popular winter sport, and competitive
races are held every year. Visitors to the N.W.T.
can experience dogsledding as multi -day tours
or short jaunts into the winter wilderness.
NAHANNI NATIONAL PARK
For unspoiled wilderness, few places on earth
can compare to Nahanni National Park. This
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UNESCO World Heritage Site has soaring
mountain cliffs, cathedral -like canyons, rushing
rivers, ancient caves, spectacular waterfalls
(Virginia falls), and luxurious hot -springs. Rafting,
canoeing, camping and hiking are just some of
the ways this pristine park can be explored.
GREAT NORTH ARTS FESTIVAL
Every summer in the town of Inuvik, visual
artists, performers, locals and visitors alike
gather over a period of 10 days to appreciate the
diverse artistic traditions of the North. Inuit, First
Nations and Metis peoples display their creative
talents, and workshops in traditional mediums
such as beading, weaving, soapstone and more
are a great way to have a more hands on
experience. Live performances, primarily music
and dancing, are also on offer.
THE SALT PLAINS
Near Fort Smith in Wood Buffalo National Park
(Canada's largest national park), salt bubbles up
from springs over a 200 -kilometre expanse of
desert -like plains. Salt -tolerant plants thrive in
the area and wildlife lingering nearby is
frequently spotted.
DEMONYM
People from the Northwest Territories
are called Northwest Territorians,
or N.W.T.ers for short.
TERRITORIAL NICKNAMES
• Canada's Last Frontier .
• North of Sixty
• Land of the Polar Bear
• Nunatsiaq (beautiful land in Inuktitut)
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DID YOU KNOW?
• The Northwest Territories has 11 officially recognized
languages: English. French, Inuktitut, lnuvialuktun.
Inuinnagtun, North Slavey, South Slavey, Cree,
Tlinchon/Dogrib, Gwich'in and' Chipewyan. Citizens
have the right to use any of these languages in legislative
proceedings and territorial courts.
• The N.W.T. is home to both the largest and deepest
lake in Canada. Great Bear Lake has a surface area of
31,153 km', and Great Slave Lake has a maximum depth
of 614 metres.
• This territory is the world's second biggest producer of
diamonds. The diamonds are of superior quality than
those found in Africa.
• The N.W.T. has no political parties. Instead. the territory's
government is made up of individuals who are voted in
by their individual names rather than party affiliation. At
a federal level, N.W.T. elected officials are assigned to
whichever party is currently in power.
• The Northwest Territories holds the largest amount of pingos
— naturally occurring mounds of earth -covered ice — in
the world.
• Yellowknife is the coldest city in Canada with an annual
mean temperature of -5.4 C. In the north. it's not
uncommon for winter temperatures to dip down to -50'C.
• Ragged Ass Road in Yellowknife was so named by
prospector Lou Rocher. While the name sounds rather
vulgar, the original street name, Privy Road. wasn't
much better.
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CELEBRATING
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