Demography – Humans in the
Northwest Territories
The human population density in the NWT is very low. However, the NWT have cultural links to the environment that are appreciated and noted around the world. Humans are one of the main driving forces influencing the environment. Indicators on human-related changes in each ecozones are helpful in analyzing and predicting how humans will drive future changes in our environment. These indicators provide background on the human dimension in our analysis of the state of the environment in other focal points.
4.1. Trends in demography in NWT ecozones
This indicator reports on changes in the number and density of people living in each ecozone in the NWT.
Information is summarized from NWT Bureau of Statistics – Quarterly reports. Some of the demographic analysis of the NWT is provided in the most current NWT Economic Analysis and Outlook.
NWT Focus
Humans have been living in the NWT for thousands of years. Each ecozone or ecosystem has fashioned, over time, its own human culture and pattern of land use, so that people have defined themselves by where they live. Current patterns of habitation – numbers and densities – can inform our understanding of present and future links between human activities and ecozone changes. People are making decisions today that will affect the future state of the NWT’s environment in the future. Each of these decisions is influenced by where they live.
Current view: status and trend
Source: NWT Bureau of Statistics (December 2010). Statistics Quarterly. Population Estimates - Community.
Population growth in the NWT has been modest. About three-quarters (73.22%) of NWT residents live in a medium to large community (Fort Simpson, Fort Smith, Hay River, Inuvik, Norman Wells, or Yellowknife). This percentage has slightly increased (from 71.82%) since 1999. Most of the population growth occurred in NWT’s only city - Yellowknife (Taiga Shield ecozone). Since 1999, the proportion of NWT residents living in Yellowknife has slightly increased from 43.23% to 45.92%. The number of people who work in the NWT, but are not NWT residents, was not tracked in this indicator.
NWT population density is 0.03 people per km2. Derived from NWT Bureau of Statistics (December 2010). Statistics Quarterly Report. Population Estimates.
As noted in NewStats (NWT Bureau of Statistics, September 2010), the NWT population is aging (median age increased from 26.9 to 31.5 years over the last 20 years), although the NWT's population remains young compared to that of Canada (median age in Canada is 39.7 years). This is reflected in a decrease in birth rate and a slight increase in death rate. Still, the birth rate for the NWT remains much higher than the Canadian average.
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Graph updated as of May 12, 2011. Source, net migration data: NWT Bureau of Statistics (December 2010). Statistics Quarterly. Components of population change. Letter markers and legend added by ENR to provide timeline of events relevant to the NWT. This is for interest only and is not intended to imply cause and effect.
a Economic recession, closure of Army base in Inuvik (Taiga Plains) (1985). Low oil prices. Closure of Pine Point, Taiga Plains (1988), Terra (1985), and Salmita (Southern Arctic 1987).
- b End of recession. Strike at Giant Mine (1992). Discovery of diamonds (Taiga Shield)(1991).
- c Closure of Colomac (1997), Ptarmigan, and Tom Mines (Taiga Shield) (1997). Government cut-backs.
- d Construction and opening (1998) of Ekata - International diamond workers arriving (Taiga Shield). Closure of Giant and Con Mines (1999-2004).
- e Exploration for diamonds, oil and gas. Construction and opening of Diavik (2003).
- f Slow down in construction of diamond mines (Southern Arctic, Taiga Shield).
- g Construction and Opening of Snap Lake (2007), increase in oil price (2008). Economic recession (2008).
Most immigrants to the NWT come from other Canadian jurisdictions – Alberta (31%), , Ontario (18%), British Columbia (9%), Quebec (8%), and Newfoundland (8%). About 5% of immigrants come from outside Canada.
As in other regions of Canada, migration in the NWT generally appears to be associated with economic factors. Most people moving into the NWT are in their 20s and 30s, and slightly more are males than females. Over the past 20 years the net migration of people can be explained by the boom and bust of the NWT’s economy and in recent years, by the demands of large-scale construction sites, such as diamond mines.
People also move from one NWT region to others. As noted in the NWT Economic Review – NT Regions report, during the past 5 years, the population has increased in the North Slave region, including in Yellowknife (Taiga Shield), and decreased in the Inuvik region (northern part of the Taiga Plains).
Looking forward
The NWT is not experiencing the rapidly increasing human population seen in other regions of Canada; in fact, with the exception of Newfoundland and Labrador, the NWT's population growth since 2006 is the lowest in Canada (NWT Bureau of Statistics, 2010). The NWT’s population is getter older, on average, but it is still younger than the rest of the Canadian population (NWT Bureau of Statistics, 2010). It is likely that the NWT’s population will remain very mobile in the future. Between 1999 and 2009, for all but 3 years, the NWT has been a net exporter of people, mostly to Alberta (NWT Bureau of Statistics, 2010). As noted in the NWT Economic Analysis and Outlook, “ This means a loss of transfer payments, skills, investment capital, economies of scale, and business markets.” It could also mean a loss in environmental skills, education, stewardship, and volunteerism.
Looking around
Yukon and Nunavut have experienced noticeable population growth over the past 2 years. The more rapid growth of Nunavut is due to its young population and high birth rate.
Graph updated as of May 12, 2011.
Find out more
Other Focal Points
- See ECONOMY for more information on NWT’s economic outlook and its links to the environment.
Updated: 16 May 2011
Top
4.2. Trends in use of Aboriginal languages in each NWT ecozone.
This indicator reports on changes in the percentage of Aboriginal people (15 years or older) that are able to speak an Aboriginal language, per ecozone in the NWT.
This information is summarized from NWT Bureau of Statistics – Statistics Quarterly (December 2010).
NWT Focus
Aboriginal languages reflect stories and places in a specific environment. NWT animals, plants, rivers, lakes, land – the NWT’s environment - is richly described and understood in the NWT’s nine Aboriginal languages. Each language is suited to fully transmit stories, expressions, and knowledge about specific ecozones in the NWT. Loss of these languages, or any impoverishment of words, from one generation to the next, can result in loss of environmental traditional knowledge.
Preserving languages, is one way to help to preserve Traditional Knowledge, which has been recognized as an important component of the Convention on Biological Diversity.
- ‘Article 8(j): Traditional Knowledge, Innovations and Practices … respect, preserve and maintain knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities embodying traditional lifestyles relevant for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity and promote their wider application with the approval and involvement of the holders of such knowledge, innovations and practices and encourage the equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the utilization of such knowledge innovations and practices. “ Convention on Biological Diversity
People are making decisions today that will affect the future state of the NWT environment. Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge influences these decisions; this knowledge is often better transmitted in its original language.
Current view: status and trend
The last survey in 2009 found that an overall average of 38% of Aboriginal people in the NWT could speak an Aboriginal language.
In the northern-most ecozones of the NWT (Northern and Southern Arctic), the Aboriginal languages most spoken is Inuvialuktun, followed by Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun. In these ecozones (which include Ulukhaktok, Paulatuk, Sachs Harbour, and Tuktoyaktuk) about 60%, 23%, 40% and 22% of Aboriginal people over 15 years of age, respectively, can speak an Aboriginal language. In the Taiga ecozomes over the past 25 years, the percentage of Dene and Metis who can speak an Aboriginal language has declined by 16%-24%. Languages most spoken in these ecozones are, from north to south: Gwich’in, North Slavey, Tlicho, South Slavey, Chipewyan, and Cree. In 2009, between 47% and 81% of Aboriginal people in these Taiga ecozones indicated that they could speak an Aboriginal language.
NWT’s Aboriginal Languages
Chipewyan, Cree, Gwich’in, Inuinnaqtun Inuktitut, Inuvialuktun, North Slavey, South Slavey, Tlicho
Source : NWT Bureau of Stats. 1984, 1989, 1994 and 1999 - NWT Labour Force Surveys; 2004 and 2009 - NWT Community Surveys. Northern Arctic: Ulukhaktok (Holman), Sachs Harbour; Southern Arctic: Paulatuk, Tuktoyaktuk; Taiga Cordillera: Wrigley; Taiga Plains: Aklavik, Colville Lake, Déline, Enterprise, Fort Good Hope, Fort Liard, Fort McPherson, Fort Providence, Fort Resolution, Fort Simpson, Fort Smith, Hay River, Hay River Reserve, Inuvik, Jean Marie River, Kakisa, Nahanni Butte, Norman Wells, Trout Lake, Tsiigehtchic, Tulita, Whatì;Taiga Shield: Behchokò (Rae-Edzo), Detah, Gamètì (Rae Lakes), Lutselk'e, Wekweètì, Yellowknife.
Looking forward
The Aboriginal people have noted with great concern the decline of Aboriginal languages in most NWT communities. Retention and revitalization of Aboriginal languages face a number of challenges. These challenges (e.g., value placed on dominant languages, communications, technologies, etc.) must be addressed and opportunities must be realized for successful revitalization efforts7.
Looking around
A number of successful and effective language revitalization efforts are occurring in North America and around the world. Some of the most well-known efforts (the Navajo in the United States and the Maori of New Zealand), are well documented and provide useful information and perspective. Use of Aboriginal languages also is in decline in Australia. The “Status of traditional knowledge, innovations and Practices” is an indicator tracked at the International level to assess progress towards biodiversity targets adopted under the Convention of Biological Diversity.
Programs use this indicator to track changes access and safeguard of traditional knowledge on biodiversity around the world. These organizations and programs compile the information from the NWT, added to information from other regions in Canada and the world, and reported back regularly on the state of Aboriginal languages, to help reduce loss of both traditional knowledge and biodiversity:
United Nations Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/documents/EGM_IL_SCBD.doc
Find out more
- For more information on the GNWT Traditional Knowledge Policy go to www.enr.gov.nt.ca.
- For more information on NWT’s official languages go to Languages Commissioner of the NWT at http://www.gov.nt.ca/langcom/.
Other Focal Points
Updated: May 2011
Reference List
Ref 1 - Australian Government. Indicator: NCH-24 Survey of use of Indigenous languages. 2002. Ref Type: Internet Communication.
Ref 2 - Investment and Economic Analysis." Economic Review and Outlook 2007" (Government of the Northwest Territories; Industry, Tourism and Investment, 2008).
Ref 3 - Investment and Economic Analysis. "Economic Review NT Regions" (Government of the Northwest Territories; Industry,Tourism and Investment, 2008).
Ref 4 - NWT Bureau of Statistics. "Statistics Quarterly" (29, 2008).
Ref 5 - NWT Bureau of Statistics, "Statistics Quarterly" (29, 2008).
Ref 6 - Statistics Canada, The Daily, Thursday, March 27, 2008 (2008).