- Capital city: Whitehorse
- Population: 13,982
- Area: 188,847 square miles
History of Yukon
The Yukon Territory, as so much of Canada, was originally part of the Northwest Territories. Its name comes from the Locheux Indian word Yo-kun-ah for "great river". A very fitting name, since the Yukon River is the 5th largest in North America, and drains the whole territory. The most exciting moments in Yukon history came in 1896, when gold was discovered in Bonanza Creek, and the Klondike Gold Rush began. Before the gold rush the Yukon was a district of the Northwest Territories, but with its new prosperity it was made a separate territory in 1898. The centre of gold country, Dawson was the capital until 1951, when it was replaced by Whitehorse.
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- Capital city: Iqaluit
- Population: 22,000
- Area: 190,000 square miles
History of Nunavut
In 1992 voters in the Territories approved the division of the territory and the creation of NUNAVUT, an Eskimo-dominated territory, in the eastern half. In the western part, where the division was largely opposed, Native American and Métis (mixed race) residents are negotiating for the creation of a territory to be called Denendeh.
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- Capital city: Yellowknife
- Population: 39,672
- Area: 430,000 square miles
History of Northwest Territories
Henry Hudson discovered Hudson Bay in 1610, and for several decades the HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY sent explorers and traders into the area. In 1870 the company sold the region to the Canadian confederation, and the Territories' present boundaries were set in 1912. The Northwest Territories are presently governed by a commissioner and a 24-member council and send one senator (appointed) and two representatives (elected) to the national parliament.
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