Why did Inuit leaders seek greater control over land and resource development in northern Canada?

Inuit leaders sought greater control over land and resource development in northern Canada primarily to address deep-seated dissatisfaction with their living conditions and to gain a direct voice in the administration of their own affairs.1

By the mid-20th century, many Inuit had transitioned from a traditional, seminomadic lifestyle to a sedentary existence in settled communities, where they faced significant social challenges, including high rates of unemployment, substance abuse, and crime, alongside a heavy dependence on government welfare. Furthermore, as industrial interest in the region’s mineral, oil, and gas resources grew, there was increasing concern regarding environmental degradation and the impact of commercial exploitation on their traditional lands.123

These factors, combined with a desire for self-governance, led Inuit leaders to pressure the federal and territorial governments for greater authority. This advocacy culminated in the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act and the Nunavut Act, which established Nunavut as a separate territory in 1999, granting the Inuit significant control over their land and a formal role in the region's political and economic future.123