The Inuit are an indigenous group, native to the Arctic regions of the world, including Greenland, Siberia, …show more content…
It was a predominantly American defense system to detect Russian bomber incursions into North American airspace, built in 1954 in response to the Cold War. This defense project affected the Inuit greatly. Before then, this group was relatively left alone. However, once the military started to make a presence in the Canadian Arctic, questions regarding Canada’s right to claim the north started to arise. In response, the Government of Canada relocated seven families from Inukjuak, Nunavik to what became the Nunavut communities of Grise Fjord and Resolute Bay. These families, known as the High Arctic Exiles, were used as “human flagpoles” confirming Canada’s sovereignty to the north. These families were forced to remain in these locations until the Canadian government agreed to help those who wished to leave in 1987. It wasn’t until ten years after that, the government agreed to compensate for their suffering.
The rise of military presence in Nunavut resulted in the creation of communities. Before the creation of the DEW Line, Inuit were encouraged by the government to keep living off the land, as they had been doing for centuries. However, once construction began, the Inuit had the opportunity to obtain employment, medical services and trade goods. This led to sedentary