NORTHWEST TERRITORIES

Most of today's Northwest Territories was known as the North-Western Territory until 1870. Then, as now, the name primarily described the location of the Territories. The Northwest Territories were inhabited by Inuit and Indian tribes long before the Europeans started looking for the elusive Northwest Passage. Native Inuit included the Mackenzie, Copper, Caribou and Central tribes.

There were also many Indian tribes when the Europeans first arrived including the Yellow-Knife, Chipewyan, Sekani, Beaver, Nahanni, Dogrib and Slavey. The first European explorers were the Vikings, who sailed to the eastern Arctic about 1000 AD However, Martin Frobisher's expeditions in the 1570s were the first recorded visits to the Northwest Territories by an explorer.

In 1610, Henry Hudson, while looking for the Northwest Passage, landed briefly on the western shore of the bay that bears his name. His discovery opened the interior of the continent for further exploration. In 1870, the British government transferred control or the North-Western Territory to Canada, and the area was renamed the Northwest Territories. Ten years later, the British government annexed the islands of the Arctic archipelago, which also became part of the Territories, to Canada.

ln 1870, the original tiny province of Manitoba was carved out of the area. ln 1905, both Alberta and Saskatchewan were created from the Territories. Manitoba was increased in size in 1880 by taking land from the Territories. In 1898, the Yukon became a separate territory, and in 1912, the provinces of Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec were enlarged so that the Northwest Territories assumed their current boundaries, divided into two districts.

On April 1, 1999, the Northwest Territories was split into a western part, still known as the Northwest Territories, and an eastern part, known as the Territory of Nunavut. A new name for the Northwest Territories has yet to be determined. To avoid confusion, many people now refer to the Northwest Territories as the "western" Northwest Territories.

The Northwest Territories extends over a vast land area that consists of tundra, forest, and prairie. While large in geographic size, the territory is home to few people: In 1996 its population was less than 40,000. Its large geographic size and small population combine to make the territory one of the most sparsely populated areas in the world. A cold climate and permafrost (permanently frozen ground) prevent agricultural activities and make other economic activities very expensive.

The fur-trading history of the Northwest Territories began in the late 18th century with the arrival of European fur traders. Within 50 years, the fur traders had established a network of trading posts. Until the 1950s indigenous peoples formed the vast majority of the population, supporting themselves by hunting and trapping. While Indian, Métis, and Inuit moved about in search of game and fur-bearing animals, fur traders, missionaries, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police lived in small settlements that were originally fur-trading posts.