Through this virtual consulate, we look forward to extending our dialogue with the people of Nunavut and with others interested in learning more about Nunavut. This site aims to assist the people of Nunavut in accessing relevant information about the United States and to assist Americans interested in finding out more about Nunavut.

    News & Events

1 April 2009

Nunavut - April lst, 2009, the 10th anniversary of the Territory's founding
On behalf of the United States Government and Mission Canada, I would like to congratulate you and the people of Nunavut today, April lst, 2009, on the 10th anniversary of the Territory's founding. The Arctic Territory of Nunavut proudly emerged after many years of tireless work with many dreams and hopes for generations ahead. The people of Nunavut can be very proud of their many achievements thus far.. [more].

30 October 08
Arctic Trip - North Warning System
From October 7 to 10, Terry Breese, the Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) of the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa, traveled to the Arctic region of Canada to view first-hand the "North Warning System" (NWS) that Canada and the United States operate as part of their joint defense of North America. This was the first Arctic visit for a DCM, and Breese covered over 5400 miles during the four-day trip. [more]

September 15
Rae-Lynne Aramburo and Katharine Tagak of Nunavut Arctic College library in Iqaluit.

September 15
Dominique Nadeau of US Consulate General in Quebec City presents book and DVD collection to Rae-Lynne Aramburo, Nunavut Arctic College librarian.

Museums Documenting Indigenous Experience On January 30, Dr. Ramiro Matos, Curator for Latin America at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian discussed how museums document the experiences of indigenous peoples. The webcast transcript will be available soon.

11 August 08
Two Scientific Cruises to Map Arctic Seafloor
The U.S. Extended Continental Shelf Task Force, chaired by the Department of State, plans two Arctic cruises by the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy this summer, one of which will be conducted in collaboration with the Government of Canada. The cruises are part of an interagency effort to collect scientific data about the continental shelf and oceanic basins in the Arctic.
The first cruise, August 14 to September 5 from Barrow, Alaska, will employ a sophisticated echo sounder that will collect data to create a three-dimensional map of the Arctic seafloor in an area known as the Chukchi Cap. This cruise is led by the University of New Hampshire’s Joint Hydrographic Center, with support from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. [more] [Related - September 2, 2008].

	14 May 08 U.S. adds Polar Bears to List of Threatened Species WASHINGTON, D.C. – Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne today announced that he is accepting the recommendation of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dale Hall to list the polar bear as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The listing is based on the best available science, which shows that loss of sea ice threatens and will likely continue to threaten polar bear habitat. This loss of habitat puts polar bears at risk of becoming endangered in the foreseeable future, the standard established by the ESA for designating a threatened species. [More]. The proposed ESA special 4(d) rule is available at - http://www.doi.gov/issues/polar_bears.html - for a 60 day public comment period.
	08 May 08 Minister Baird and Secretary Kempthorne Hold Bilateral Meeting OTTAWA — Canada's Minister of the Environment, John Baird, held a bilateral meeting earlier today with U.S. Secretary of the Interior, Dirk Kempthorne. The Minister and Secretary were also joined by the President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, Mary Simon, as well as a number of officials from both countries. "Today's bilateral meeting included a number of cross-border issues, including the recent announcement by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) on the status of the polar bear, and other important issues that cross the 49th parallel," said Minister Baird. [More].
	April 12, 2008: Consul General Huffaker heads North for Operation Nunalivut Consul General of the United States of America for Alberta, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories Tom Huffaker, joined a team of academics and journalists on a three day trip to Ellesmere Island, to observe the final days of “Operation Nunalivut”, a month-long training exercise for Canadian Forces, including locally engaged Rangers. Escorted by Brigadier General Chris Whitecross (Commander, Joint Task Force North) and a team of officials from the Department of National Defence, the group set out from Yellowknife in a Canadian Forces plane on April 12 and spent the next days on Ellesmere Island, at Resolute Bay and in Eureka, the location of the forward base of operations for three sovereignty patrols operating on the Northeast coast of Ellesmere Island. The soldiers briefed participants on their activities, operating procedures for the extreme North, and displayed and described their equipment and survival techniques. [slideshow]
	Ambassador Wilkins visit to Nunavut, October 2005