Coat of arms of Nunavut

The Arms of Nunavut
Versions
Arms of the Commissioner
Details
Adopted	1999
Crest	On a wreath argent and azure an iglu affronty argent windowed Or and ensigned by the Royal Crown proper;
Torse	Argent and azure (white and blue)
Escutcheon	On a circular shield: Or dexter a qulliq sable inflamed gules sinister an inuksuk azure on a chief also azure above five bezants in arc reversed issuant from the lower chief a mullet (Niqirtsuituq) Or
Supporters	dexter a caribou sinister a narwhal both proper
Compartment	dexter of land set with arctic poppies, dwarf fireweed and Arctic heather proper sinister ice floes argent set on barry wavy azure and argent
Motto	and for a Motto: ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓴᙱᓂᕗᑦ, meaning "Nunavut Our Strength";

The coat of arms of the territory of Nunavut was granted by a warrant of Roméo LeBlanc, Governor General of Canada, dated 31 March 1999, one day before the territory of Nunavut, Canada was created. The same document specified the flag of Nunavut.

Overview

The coat was designed in collaboration with Inuit elders, leaders, artists, groups, and the general population of the territory. Each symbol was chosen individually from the 800 submissions for the flag and coat of arms that were received. Five draft designs were created in collaboration between the heraldic artist at the Canadian Heraldic Authority and Andrew Qappik, an Inuit artist from Pangnirtung. It is certainly one of the first coats of arms to include elements of Inuit symbolism in a traditional heraldic context.

The shield, presented on a roundel rather than the escutcheon shape traditional in European heraldry, is blue and gold, symbolizing the riches of the land. In chief is a representation of the midnight sun and of the North Star, or Niqirtsuituk. Below are a qulliq, a stone lamp representing the warmth of home and community, and an inukshuk (inukhuk, inuksuk), a stone monument serving as a guidepost and a symbol of the territory.

The crest, an igloo (iglu), represents traditional life, survival, and the Nunavut government assembled in the legislature. It is ensigned with a crown representing royal sovereignty.

The supporters, a caribou and narwhal, represent sustenance and natural resources of the land and sea. They stand on a compartment with Arctic poppies, dwarf fireweed, and Arctic heather, alongside an iceberg at sea.

The motto, written in Inuktitut syllabary, is Nunavut Sannginivut (ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓴᙱᓂᕗᑦ, or, Our Land, Our Strength).

The letters patent, too, are quite unique, having been presented in English, French, Inuktitut, and Inuinnaqtun.

Blazon

Heraldic blazon describes the coat of arms of Nunavut as:

On a circular shield: Or dexter a qulliq Sable inflamed Gules sinister an inuksuk Azure on a chief also Azure above five bezants in arc reversed issuant from the lower chief a mullet (Niqirtsuituq) Or;

And for a Crest: On a wreath Argent and Azure an iglu affronty Argent windowed Or and ensigned by the Royal Crown proper;

and for a Motto: ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓴᙱᓂᕗᑦ, meaning "Nunavut Our Strength";

and for Supporters: On a compartment dexter of Land set with Arctic poppies, dwarf fireweed and Arctic heather proper sinister ice floes Argent set on barry wavy Azure and Argent dexter a caribou sinister a narwhal both proper.

See also

• List of Canadian provincial and territorial symbols
• Symbols of Nunavut
• Coat of arms of the Northern Territory, for an Australian example of territorial arms reposing heavily on indigenous imagery

External links

• About the Flag and Coat of Arms (Government of Nunavut)
• Creation of the Coat of Arms and Flag of Nunavut (Governor General of Canada)