About the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement
The Nunavut Land Claims Agreement (NLCA) is the largest Aboriginal land claims agreement in Canadian history. It was signed on May 25, 1993, and came into effect on July 9, 1993. The Agreement is between the Inuit of the Nunavut Settlement Area and Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada.
Key Provisions
- Land Ownership: Inuit own approximately 350,000 square kilometers of land, including about 35,000 square kilometers with mineral rights
- Capital Transfer: $1.173 billion in compensation over 14 years
- Wildlife Rights: Rights to harvest wildlife throughout the Nunavut Settlement Area
- Resource Management: Participation in land, water, and wildlife management throughout Nunavut
- Nunavut Territory: The Agreement led to the creation of the Nunavut Territory on April 1, 1999
Structure
The Agreement consists of 42 Articles covering various subjects including:
- General Provisions and Interpretation
- Wildlife Management and Harvesting
- Land Use Planning and Development Impact
- Inuit Owned Lands
- Parks and Conservation Areas
- Employment and Government Contracts
- Arbitration and Implementation
Use the navigation below to browse individual pages of the Agreement, or download the PDF attachments for the complete document.
The Nunavut Agreement is the foundation of NTI’s work. It establishes the rights and benefits of enrolled Inuit while guiding NTI’s focus on land, wildlife, employment, economic opportunities, and community well-being.