Culture and Heritage

The Heritage Division is responsible for conserving Nunavut's heritage resources through comprehensive archaeology, toponymy, museums and archives programs and services. The Division supports the growth of Nunavut's artistic community and develops policies and programs aimed at conserving, protecting and enhancing the cultural richness of Nunavut.

Objectives:

   - Work to enhance the conditions under which Nunavut's artistic community can
     flourish
   - Protect, enhance and promote Nunavut's culture and heritage through effective
     archaeology and toponymy programs
   - Ensure the long term protection, conservation and development of Nunavut's
     museum collection

Develop and maintain positive working and consultative relationships with the division's major stakeholders, including NTI, Inuit Heritage Trust, the arts groups and the Department of Canadian Heritage, among others.

Geographic Names Program:

The Nunavut Geographic Names Program gives official recognition to the names of places and geographic features in Nunavut. A key objective of the program is to preserve and promote Inuit language and culture by providing official recognition to traditional Inuktitut place names. The program provides technical support and financial assistance to communities for research and analysis of place names, and assists the Nunavut Geographic Names Committee, which makes recommendations to the Government of Nunavut concerning official naming decisions.

Archives Program

The Nunavut Archives Program is responsible for the written, spoken and visual records of the Government of Nunavut, and for acquiring, preserving and ensuring public access to other records significance to the human history of the territory. The program provides technical assistance and funding to communities for archival research purposes, and provides advice and expertise to recently established Archives Council Nunavummi.

Nunavut's Chief Archivist also chairs a public body mandated by the Archives Act called the Public Records Committee. The committee's primary role is to promote records management. It is also responsible for the review and assessment of records, and for making recommendations concerning the destruction of records that are no longer required.

Archaeology Program

The Nunavut Archaeology Program is responsible for the management and protection of the territory's archaeological resources. The program regulates archaeological research activities in Nunavut, assesses and makes recommendations concerning the land development activities that threaten archaeological sites, and undertakes archaeological research as a means of providing education and training opportunities for Nunavummiut. The Nunavut Archaeology Program also enhances the understanding and appreciation of Nunavut's past. To achieve these goals, program staff works closely with community, government and land claim agencies.

Guidelines for Nunavut Territory Archaeology and Palaeontology Permits(pdf file)