April 1, 1999 a new territory was created when new borders were drawn in Canada's northern territory, the Northwest Territories. The Inuik people living in the Northwest Territories were the reason behind the rationale for the separation. After a long and difficult process, full of agreements and disagreements, Nunavut was finally declared its own territory and was separated from the Northwest Territories. Nunavut, which means "Our Land" in Inuktitut, was the first significant change to the map of Canada since Newfoundland and Labrador joined confederation in 1949. The idea of ​​separating the Northwest Territories to create a new territory dates back to the 1950s. Non-Aboriginal Northwest Territories in the Mackenzie Valley pushed to divide the western from the eastern in hopes of allowing the west to move more quickly toward responsible government. The desire for their own government is what motivated them throughout the long process of dividing the territory. In 1963, the idea of ​​separation became even closer to reality for the Inuik people. The federal government had introduced the idea of ​​dividing the Northwest Territories into the Mackenzie and Nunassiaq territories; it was later that year that the legislation died on paper. Later in 1966, the commission recommended that the Northwest Territories should not be divided. The Tapirisat Inuit of Canada revisited the idea of ​​separation in 1976. They proposed the creation of Nunavut as part of the settlement encompassing the land claims of the Inuit, including the Inuvia area of ​​the Beufort Sea. The recommended changes that needed to be made came into force in time for the 1979 federal election. Although over the next 12 months there was debate about whether... half the paper... food for many years and whether to provide sustainable livelihoods for several smaller communities in Nunavut. The main backbone of Nunavut's economy is mining and mineral exploration. Several mines opened in Nunavut in 2010, which will add $500 million to annual gross domestic product and create approximately 1,700 new job opportunities. Ecotourism, adventure, educational experiences, sport fishing and hunting are the main tourism activities in the region. This is why tourism is another huge and significant factor contributing to economic growth. The creation of Nunavut on its own territory was a very long and hard-fought process. The two new territories, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, have both been hugely successful on their own. Nunavut is now a closely linked territory culturally and is proud of its success in separating from the Northwest Territories.