Sivullirmiut move from Eastern Siberia to Alaska.
Inuit culture is established on Alaska’s north coast.
Inuit begin to move east across what is now Canada, as far north as Greenland.
European whalers and traders arrive in the Arctic.
Martin Frobisher becomes the first known European explorer to visit the Arctic.
Henry Hudson “discovers” Hudson’s Bay and Strait while searching for the Northwest Passage. The Hudson expedition is the first to winter in the Arctic.
Moravians establish the Nain Mission Station in Labrador.
Sir John Franklin embarks on his infamous expeditions, first travelling overland with Aboriginal assistance and mapping much of what is now the Northwest Territories. His final quest for the Northwest Passage is a catastrophic failure. He and every member of his crew perish.
The Northwest Territories is created as The Hudson’s Bay Company surrenders its land (known as Rupert’s Land) to the Government of Canada.
Main source of commerce between Inuit and Qallunaat moves from whaling to fur trading.
After several years of Arctic travel, Captain Joseph Bernier unveils a plaque on Melville Island officially “claiming” the Arctic islands for Canada.
The fur trade peaks, bringing the first government officials to the Arctic, mainly RCMP officers.
Depression-era economic failures in the South lead to the decline of the fur trade, leaving Inuit without their primary source of income and more dependent on government.
The United States Air Force establishes bases in the Canadian Arctic to re-supply war aircraft and ships bound for Europe. One of the biggest is at Frobisher Bay, now known as Iqaluit.
Canadian government presence intensifies as the country recognizes the need to establish sovereignty over the Arctic.
Inuit are granted the right to vote in federal elections.
The Canadian government expands its role in the Arctic and begins moving Inuit families off the land into permanent, centralized settlements.
Simonie Michael becomes the first Inuk member of the Northwest Territories council.
Abe Okpik leads The Surname Project, touring Inuit communities to register surnames to replace identification numbers.
The Committee on Original People’s Entitlement (COPE) meets for the first time in Coppermine, NWT.
Inuit Tapirisat of Canada holds its inaugural meeting at Ottawa’s Carleton University.
The first issue of Inuit Monthly (precursor to Inuktitut Magazine) is published.
The Northern Quebec Inuit Association is established to represent the interests of the Inuit of Quebec during negotiations of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement.
The Anik Satellite is launched.
The Labrador Inuit Association is created to represent Nunatsiavut Inuit.
The Canadian Government agrees to begin land claims negotiations with Aboriginal peoples who never signed treaties relinquishing their rights.
The first fully elected council of the Northwest Territories takes office. Inuit, Dene and Métis form a majority on the 15-seat council.
The Baffin Regional Inuit Association is founded to represent Inuit in the Baffin region of the Northwest Territories. Today it is known as the Qikiqtani Inuit Association, the regional arm of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.
The James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement is signed in Quebec City.
The Kivalliq and Kitikmeot Inuit Associations are formed to represent the Inuit of their respective regions. Today these associations are regional arms of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.
Willie Adams of Rankin Inlet, NWT, becomes the first Inuk Senator.
The Inuit Circumpolar Conference (ICC) is founded as the international organization representing Inuit of the circumpolar world. Every four years, Inuit representatives from Russia, Greenland, Canada and Alaska gather to discuss social, economic and environmental issues impacting the polar regions of the planet.
The Voisey’s Bay Mining Project drives Labrador Inuit to initiate land claims discussions with the provincial and federal governments.
Makivik Corporation is created by an act of the Quebec National Assembly to implement and administer the James Bay Agreement.
Inuit Tapirisat of Canada is granted observer status at the Federal-Provincial Ministers’ Conference on the Constitution.
The Inuksuk Project is launched, bringing television to Arctic communities.
Peter Ittinuar becomes the first Inuk Member of Parliament, representing the newly created Nunatsiaq riding of the Northwest Territories. Ittinuar is also the first person to speak the Inuit language during a sitting of the House of Commons.
The Inuit Committee on National Issues (ICNI) is formed to represent ITC’s voice on the Constitution and other national political issues.
ITC calls for the establishment of a Nunavut territorial government.
Nunavut land claims negotiations resume with the understanding that the proposal for creating the new territory of Nunavut would be dealt with outside the comprehensive claims forum.
The Northwest Territories agrees in principle to the creation of the Nunavut government.
The Inuit Broadcasting Corporation is created, upon the completion of the Inuksuk Project.
More than half of NWT residents vote in favour of dividing the territory.
The Government of Canada agrees in principle to territorial division.
The Tungavik Federation of Nunavut is incorporated.
The repatriated Constitution Act recognizes Inuit as one of the three aboriginal peoples of Canada and affirms the aboriginal rights and treaty rights of Canada’s first peoples.
ICC is granted non-government organization status at the United Nations.
The Inuvialuit Final Land Claim Agreement is signed.
Pauktuutit is formed to represent the interests of Inuit women at the national level.
ITC participates in Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) conference.
First Ministers’ Conference fails to achieve agreement on entrenchment of “Inherent Aboriginal Rights.”
ICC becomes the first indigenous group to be given an environmental achievement award by the United Nations, after it publishes a framework for a regional conservation strategy.
Tungavik Federation of Nunavut signs Land Claims Agreement-in-Principle.
ITC takes over publication of Inuktitut Magazine, an Inuit cultural journal, from the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development.
Federal Government announces the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples (RCAP).
Inuit Tapirisat of Canada asks Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples to investigate the claims of the High Arctic Exiles.
Nunavut Land Claims Agreement is signed.
The National Inuit Youth Council (NIYC) is formed.
Mary Simon is named Canada’s first Ambassador for Circumpolar Affairs and, in this role, oversees the creation of the Arctic Council. In 1999, she also becomes Canada’s Ambassador to Denmark and the first Inuk to hold an ambassadorial position.
The Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples presents its report to Parliament.
The Government of Canada officially responds to the report submitted by the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples in a document called Gathering Strength.
The Territory of Nunavut is officially created, marking the first time the map of Canada has changed since Newfoundland joined Confederation in 1949.
The Labrador Inuit Association, along with the provincial and federal governments, signs an Agreement-in-Principal for the Labrador land claims agreement.
The Inuit Tapirisat of Canada changes its name to Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami to reflect the organization’s success in land claims settlements for all Inuit regions.
Governor General Adrienne Clarkson proclaims an amendment to the Canadian Constitution, changing the name of Newfoundland to Newfoundland and Labrador.
Jordin Tootoo becomes the first Inuk to be drafted to the National Hockey League.
Inuit of Nunavik sign Agreement-in-Principle on offshore claims with Governments of Nunavik, Canada and Quebec.
Atanarjuat, directed by Zacharias Kunuk, becomes the first feature film in the Inuit language. It is released worldwide to great critical and popular acclaim.
Labrador Inuit ratify the Labrador Final Agreement.
ITK signs a partnership agreement with the federal government. The agreement recognizes Inuit as an Aboriginal people of Canada, acknowledges Inuit land claims agreements and commits to address social conditions in the Canadian Arctic and to involve Inuit in policy-making concerning the Arctic.
The Nunatsiavut Government is officially established.
First Ministers’ Meeting produces the Kelowna Accord, which includes a $1 billion package designed to deal with the profound gaps in health, education and housing in Aboriginal communities.
Nunavik Inuit sign offshore claims agreement, which provides the Inuit of Nunavik with land title to offshore islands, hunting fishing and trapping rights, and rights to resource development as well as financial compensation. The offshore area was not included in the 1975 James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement.
Sheila Watt-Cloutier is the first Inuk nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
The Inuit language becomes the first aboriginal language to be represented in the Senate. At the urging of Senators Charlie Watt and Willie Adams, it is used in the Senate chamber and in two Senate committees.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper offers an apology in the House of Commons, on behalf of the Government of Canada, to survivors of the Residential School experience in Canada.
Leona Aglukkaq is elected Member of Parliament for Nunavut and is appointed Minister of Health, becoming the first Inuk to hold a senior cabinet position. The Inuit language is spoken during historic first meeting between the Health Minister and National Inuit Leader.
The European Union issues ban on import of all seal products.
Circumpolar Inuit adopt A Circumpolar Declaration on Sovereignty in the Arctic, which sets out the identity, rights and responsibilities of Inuit as one of the world’s indigenous peoples.
For the first time, the Olympic torch passes through six Arctic communities.
Inuit declare 2010 the Year of the Inuit, kicking off a year-long series of events geared at raising awareness about the Inuit of Canada.
The Inuksuk represents Canada as the symbol of the Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver.